This time of year is typically busy with people attempting to gain admission to a higher education institution in order to advance their studies. Some people had their expectations crushed after getting admitted and paying the R4600 minimum only to learn the courses they were accepted for were full. This occurred at Walter Sisulu University (WSU), and as soon as it did, social media was flooded with people sharing their dismay and pleading for refunds.
One of the prospective students, whose identity is being hidden, revealed to I’solezwe lesiXhosa that he applied to WSU last year and that, on February 3, he received an email accepting him to enrol in a Diploma in Policing program at the Buffalo City Campus in East London.
“I was required to make an R4600 down payment when I attempted to register. I paid because I wanted to guarantee my spot. The course quota was full when I registered for it. I contacted the number I was advised to call to get my refund, but nobody answered the calls.
“When I requested for help, I was told that since the course was full, there was nothing they could do but suggest that I apply for a refund. However, despite leaving voicemails, they haven’t responded to me,” he stated.
The prospective student revealed that as he was handling this, he received a second email from WSU informing him that he had been accepted to study for a different programme for which he had applied, a Diploma in Tourism Management, on Friday, February 10. He decided to register immediately because he had already paid the required amount, but he was unable to do so because the quota was full.
He informed this publication that after two years of failing to gain admission to a university, he had to take out a loan to make sure he made the minimal amount in order to be able to study this year. His hometown is Mthatha, however he currently lives in Butterworth where he works occasionally. He completed his grade 12 in 2020.
He stated that his parents are uneducated, but they are pleased that he has been admitted to study at a university. He is currently in agony over having to pay back a loan for money he did not use.
I’solezwe lesiXhosa contacted the university to ask how they intended to address this problem. According to the WSU spokesperson, Yonela Tukwayo, overadmission of students is a typical practice at many universities because not all admitted students will enrol.
“A student accepted at WSU and at another university might decide to decline the offer to study at WSU and take up another. WSU must ensure that there is a pipeline of students that can register in order to meet its quotas to avoid financial penalties for under-enrolment. Other industries apply the same business practice such as the airline industry,” said Tukwayo.
Tukwayo confirmed that the prospective students would either receive a reimbursement or be allocated to different programs. “On Friday, 10 February, we had 88 students who had paid the registration fee but could not register, we expect this number to significantly decrease this week as we provide those students with alternative programmes to register for.
“Those who do not take up the alternative spaces that are offered to them will be refunded their monies,” she said.
For everyone who has attempted to get in touch with the university to ask about their refunds, Tukwayo stated the call centre is completely operational, but because of an increase in call volume during the registration period, a response does take longer.
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