The Student Representative Council (SRC) at the University of Limpopo is giving R500 000 to help financially-needy returning students during registration.
The registration for returning students will begin on Monday, 20 January where indigent but eligible students with outstanding fees will be cleared by the SRC for the 2020 academic year.
According to the SRC President Nichodimus Mojela, this was motivated by the fact that many students come from poor backgrounds and cannot afford to pay fees. “They are currently sitting on outstanding balances and face the possibility of exclusion unless they pay up,” he said.
Mojela explained the initiative as a mechanism to safeguard students’ right to education. He said that no student shall be excluded from attaining education because of financial lack. “With this initiative, we are making an intervention to assist students to pursue their dreams,” he remarked.
The president said they are aware that the amount is not enough to assist everyone in need but there would be a criterion to identify deserving students. “We are going to be very careful and strategic about this programme. There are certain things that we are going to look at, such as academic progression and the amount owed among others.”
He added that this is also a measure to relieve pressure from the university as it operates on finances and cannot meet all its obligations. He also noted that other means to assist students will be available through the Office of the Treasurer.
Mojela further said that instead of spending the money on entertainment and other less important programmes, they decided to redirect the money towards assisting students academically.
In response to this call, returning students should submit the following documents as soon as possible at the SRC Chambers Boardroom:
- ID Copy
- Academic record
- Statement of account
- Motivation letter
Source: https://www.ul.ac.za/
