A waste of time and money
First years’ induction in the Nelson Mandela University’s South campus.
“Parents in poor homes sacrifice money they could have used to buy groceries for their homes, and they send their children to university early, that is all for nothing”.
Students arrive at the on-campus residences in about two to three weeks prior the academic program of the university commences. The main reason behind this early arrival is; for students to be inducted and familiarized with their relevant venues where they will be attending classes around the campus. At least that what the parents and residence managers think.
First year students who come in to reside in the newly named residences; Claude Qavane and Sarah Bartman are kept up all day and almost through the night singing “amagwijo” and are told that the “How to buddy” sessions that the university organizes for its first year students are for the weak and are not necessary. The house committee of the time simply does not introduce the students to the necessary information they need before the commencement of classes. It is this very reason that students struggle to find the venues for their classes when the academic program commences.
The question is whether the operation of these inductions is known by the residence managers and even the management of the university. If not, who has the responsibility to facilitate these programs and are they doing the job to full capacity?
In an interview with Asavela Magwa, a first year resident in Claude Qavane residence he said the orientation process could be changed to benefit first year students more. “Some of us come to the university with no knowledge about computers. We do not even know how to turn a computer on sometimes but nothing is done to change such situations” he said. it is not a secret today in the Nelson Mandela University that some first year students come to the university and are introduced to computer programs for the first time in their lives. Because the academic year has to move according to the university’s curriculum, some students get left behind still trying to adjust to the operating of computers and using especially the Microsoft office programs. In an ideal world, the introduction of students to university would be to get them familiar with the campuses they are going to be attending in and being shown different buildings and lecture halls according to their respective numbers. This is however not the case in the two houses formerly known as Xanadu and Melodi (XM) residences, now known as Claude Qavane and Sarah Baartman.
Twenty students were asked to give comments on a few questions on how they are finding the orientation style of the two houses (Claude Qavane and Sarah Baartman) and they gave their different views and ideas. “It is pointless to arrive early at res only to be made to sing all day, every day, for weeks even. Parents in poor homes sacrifice money they could have used to buy groceries for their homes and they send their children to university early, that is all for nothing”, Kuhle Tayi who is a first year student and resides in the Claude Qavane residence and attended orientation in 2019 said.
The Claude Qavane residence conducts surveys on what students feel needs to be changed on how the orientation program is conducted but none of the students’ views are ever taken into consideration and implemented in the following year’s orientation. The 2018 first year students were asked what they would like the house to change in the orientation process but the 2019 program was exactly the same as that of 2018.
Mr Tswane Sylvester, Claude Qavane residence manager said the house committees of the previous years have been reprimanded on how they conduct the orientation of first years as some students would report how they are made to sing and stay up in the late hours of the night. “It was left to the house committee to handle the orientation program though and we would like to believe that changes have been put in place to better the orientation program”, he said.
On an interview with the incoming “king” of the Claude Qavane residence in 2020, Lwandile Msimanga, he said it was not easy for them as the committee of the house to decide what they needed to change exactly but they have drawn a few ideas and put them on paper. “One of the key things that we are looking to do is to do away with the orientation that is based solely on students singing all day and night. We want to introduce a more interactive approach and bring in ideas that will go in line with the new name of the residence; Claude Qavane which has a very strong political resonance to it”, Msimanga said.
The new orientation approach is said to have three phases that will help advance the change that the 2020 committee will be trying to implement come 2020. The phases include
- Gaming to ensure more interaction between the first-year students.
- An academic perspective which involve mentors more and enable students to build confidence with their mentors before the academic year commences.
- Lastly the residence will introduce students to political consciousness and why it is important when one is in university. Students will also learn about why actions like “fees must fall” took place.
The Claude Qavane residence 2020 committee wishes to implement at least 80% of their ideas by January 2020. Msimanga said for any of these ideas to be fully implemented and functional, certain gaps would have to be bridged between the residence manager and the committee of the house. “In as much as there is the separation of powers, the residence manager will need to be involved more in activities that the house usually holds. We of course do not expect a man with a wife and kids to attend party-styled events with loud music but the more formal ones like the opening and closing functions of the house” Msimanga said. He also added that the residence manager, Mr Tswane Sylvester must also be the one to welcome students into the residence and take them through the school’s policy and code of conduct.
The year 2020 looks promising for the Claude Qavane residence as the incoming committee seems to have nothing else but good intentions for the house.
Victor Phemba 