As we return to our normal academic activities today, I would like to update all students and staff of the University most recent developments.

Following the meeting of vicechancellors and leaders of student councils convened by President Zuma on Friday, 23 October 2015, there will be no (zero percent) increase in student fees for 2016.  At UP there will be no increase in 2016 in all fees for all undergraduate, postgraduate and international students and there will be no increase (0 percent) in residence accommodation fees, meal fees and any initial payments. To assist with meals, the University also undertakes to provide additional support to financially needy students.

Students who qualify for NSFAS funding, students who submit letters from sponsors, and financially needy students who make the necessary financial arrangements with the University will be allowed to register without paying the initial fee on registration, provided that they meet all other criteria. In addition, students in financial need who have outstanding residence fees will be considered individually for assistance should they meet all other residence placement criteria. Also, for students in financial need, the application fee will not be payable during 2016 for the 2017 academic year.

Furthermore, the University has substantially increased its own contribution to top up NSFAS funding by an amount of R 20 million, and to make these additional funds available to support poor students in 2016.

The University Management has agreed that, provided students continue to behave responsibly, no persons who participated in the mass protest action will be disciplined by the University or its affiliates. We appreciate the measure of order and discipline the leaders managed to maintain through the protests from Wednesday last week.

In order to ensure completion of the year’s academic programme, the University has made a public undertaking that no student will be disadvantaged academically by the changes to the programme. We have agreed to extend the time for the examination period to compensate for time lost during the protest action. To assist all our students, the lectures, assignment submissions, tests, examinations and other academic activities that have been affected, will be rescheduled. The revised test and examination schedule will be published early this week.

I would like to appeal to all students and members of UP staff to make every effort to settle back into focussing on their academic activities and the upcoming end-of-year examinations. I welcome everyone back and wish you success in the examinations.