INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ PETITION OF CONCERN
SRC-Postgraduate & International Students Affairs office with University of Pretoria International (UPI) Student Society:
Name & Surname: Lindani Mgoduka
Email address: [email protected]
Cell: 0735123162
Tell: 012 420 6568
Name & Surname: Elma Akob
Email address: [email protected]
Cell: 0835385638
We the above-mentioned namesare the acting incumbent of the above departments Submit this Petition of Concern:
Background of petition, due to the current challenges by the current COVID-19 pandemic and the University of Pretoria (UP) online learning and teaching system, it has come to our attention (SRC-Postgraduate & International Students Affairs office and the University of Pretoria International Student Society President) that International students might face financial challenges in the year of 2020 and 2021. COVID-19 has limited any financial income from our parents, legal guardian, and sponsors and thus we predict challenges to tuition and resident payments. Furthermore, online learning and teaching has limited access to the facilities we the students of University of Pretoria pay tuition for, facilities that international students pay double the fees for.
With regards to residential fees, students who have not been using residential facilities are still being charged for these facilities. International students especially those outside of the SADC region already pay twice the amount of an average student’s tuition fee, we do understand the protocols and policies that govern this kind of charge however COVID-19 is a global challenge and thus the University of Pretoria needs to be sensitive to the fact that students could neither foresee nor plan for this pandemic and should be willing to apply change in their policies to ease the financial strain placed on students. We see NSFAS students receiving assistance, and we can only hope for the same for International Students.
This global pandemic which has crippled the economy Worldwide has had severe implications on our finances. Some of our parents have lost their jobs, their source of income, their homes and some even their lives and we appeal to the University to hear our cry and assent to our appeals.
We submit that:
- All International Student tuition fees be adjusted by at least 20/25% from their 2020 initial fees.
- All Tuks Residential fees for the months not operated be excluded or deducted from our students account.
- The University of Pretoria refrains from any tuition and residential fee increment for the 2021 to 2022 financial calendar aimed at International students.
- The University of Pretoria Executives should establish a solidarity fund towards alleviating the tuition credit for International students.
- The University should implement and design a program that will assist and aid International Students who failed their 2020 Academic year due to the online teaching and learning systems.
- The University of Pretoria registrar should allow all financial owing International and Postgraduate students enrolled during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic to re-register for the 2021 Academic year.
- All students should be allowed to access their academic transcripts regardless of whether their fees are up to date or not. Students need to be allowed to peruse their exams whether their fees are up to date or not.
Updates
July 25, 2020
Reaching two hundred and fifty signatures serves as a clear indication that the financial struggles faced by our international students are widely felt across this campus. This milestone demonstrates that our shared concerns deserve a meaningful response from the university administration.
July 24, 2020
We have reached one hundred signatures on this petition. It is heartening to see this level of engagement regarding the financial pressures facing our international student body.
Reached 250 supporters
July 24, 2020
July 22, 2020
The stories shared by students concerning their financial hardship reveal the true weight of this situation. We are currently preparing to present these testimonies to the administration because your experiences provide the evidence required for a substantive conversation.
Reached 100 supporters
July 21, 2020
56 Comments
I'm mainly worried about tuition fees when permit extension already require so much money on their own. With COVID-19 it's getting harder and harder to make money for our parents for basic needs. What more tuition and other things.
We would like to see a concise plan on how international students will be assisted to carry on with online learning next semester given the data constraints in their home countries.
If UP has international students at heart, which I believe to be the case, then it should sympathize and adjust both it's residential and tuition fees just like what other universities have done.
I can't be charged for res yet I haven't been staying there since March due to the pandemic. I'm stuck outside S.A. because borders are closed but I'm still expected to be charged? Really unfair. We international students matter too, we are human beings not cash machines.
This is only fair for the international students to be taken care of. I personally wasnt allowed to stay at my res and I eventually had to get a lease for private accomodation. I have moved out of res but was still charged for the 4 months I wasnt in res.
In full support of the cause.
We need all the help we can get from our homes
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INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ PETITION OF CONCERN
SRC-Postgraduate & International Students Affairs office with University of Pretoria International (UPI) Student Society:
Name & Surname: Lindani Mgoduka
Email address: [email protected]
Cell: 0735123162
Tell: 012 420 6568
Name & Surname: Elma Akob
Email address: [email protected]
Cell: 0835385638
We the above-mentioned namesare the acting incumbent of the above departments Submit this Petition of Concern:
Background of petition, due to the current challenges by the current COVID-19 pandemic and the University of Pretoria (UP) online learning and teaching system, it has come to our attention (SRC-Postgraduate & International Students Affairs office and the University of Pretoria International Student Society President) that International students might face financial challenges in the year of 2020 and 2021. COVID-19 has limited any financial income from our parents, legal guardian, and sponsors and thus we predict challenges to tuition and resident payments. Furthermore, online learning and teaching has limited access to the facilities we the students of University of Pretoria pay tuition for, facilities that international students pay double the fees for.
With regards to residential fees, students who have not been using residential facilities are still being charged for these facilities. International students especially those outside of the SADC region already pay twice the amount of an average student’s tuition fee, we do understand the protocols and policies that govern this kind of charge however COVID-19 is a global challenge and thus the University of Pretoria needs to be sensitive to the fact that students could neither foresee nor plan for this pandemic and should be willing to apply change in their policies to ease the financial strain placed on students. We see NSFAS students receiving assistance, and we can only hope for the same for International Students.
This global pandemic which has crippled the economy Worldwide has had severe implications on our finances. Some of our parents have lost their jobs, their source of income, their homes and some even their lives and we appeal to the University to hear our cry and assent to our appeals.
We submit that:
- All International Student tuition fees be adjusted by at least 20/25% from their 2020 initial fees.
- All Tuks Residential fees for the months not operated be excluded or deducted from our students account.
- The University of Pretoria refrains from any tuition and residential fee increment for the 2021 to 2022 financial calendar aimed at International students.
- The University of Pretoria Executives should establish a solidarity fund towards alleviating the tuition credit for International students.
- The University should implement and design a program that will assist and aid International Students who failed their 2020 Academic year due to the online teaching and learning systems.
- The University of Pretoria registrar should allow all financial owing International and Postgraduate students enrolled during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic to re-register for the 2021 Academic year.
- All students should be allowed to access their academic transcripts regardless of whether their fees are up to date or not. Students need to be allowed to peruse their exams whether their fees are up to date or not.
Updates
July 25, 2020
Reaching two hundred and fifty signatures serves as a clear indication that the financial struggles faced by our international students are widely felt across this campus. This milestone demonstrates that our shared concerns deserve a meaningful response from the university administration.
July 24, 2020
We have reached one hundred signatures on this petition. It is heartening to see this level of engagement regarding the financial pressures facing our international student body.
Reached 250 supporters
July 24, 2020
July 22, 2020
The stories shared by students concerning their financial hardship reveal the true weight of this situation. We are currently preparing to present these testimonies to the administration because your experiences provide the evidence required for a substantive conversation.
Reached 100 supporters
July 21, 2020
56 Comments
So many students suffer, I have recently been told a story of a boy who couldn't get the opportunity to write his final year exams because he hasn't paid his fees. I am super hurt on his behalf because in this hard times no one should have their dream dimmed because of finances. He could have written his exams and only get his results upon fulfilling his financial requirements.
I'm mainly worried about tuition fees when permit extension already require so much money on their own. With COVID-19 it's getting harder and harder to make money for our parents for basic needs. What more tuition and other things.
We would like to see a concise plan on how international students will be assisted to carry on with online learning next semester given the data constraints in their home countries.
If UP has international students at heart, which I believe to be the case, then it should sympathize and adjust both it's residential and tuition fees just like what other universities have done.
I can't be charged for res yet I haven't been staying there since March due to the pandemic. I'm stuck outside S.A. because borders are closed but I'm still expected to be charged? Really unfair. We international students matter too, we are human beings not cash machines.
This is only fair for the international students to be taken care of. I personally wasnt allowed to stay at my res and I eventually had to get a lease for private accomodation. I have moved out of res but was still charged for the 4 months I wasnt in res.
In full support of the cause.
We need all the help we can get from our homes
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So many students suffer, I have recently been told a story of a boy who couldn't get the opportunity to write his final year exams because he hasn't paid his fees. I am super hurt on his behalf because in this hard times no one should have their dream dimmed because of finances. He could have written his exams and only get his results upon fulfilling his financial requirements.