By FORTUNE NDLANGAMANDLA | 2018-07-22
It is a wait and see situation.
That is how best to describe the brewing war between the management of the Southern Africa Nazarene University (SANU) and about 90 students doing third year in nursing and midwifery (BSNM).
The bone of contention is that SANU management alleges that there were malpractices discovered in the students’ answers in one of the papers (NUR 306 BSNM Level 3) of the second semester exam results. On July 9, through a memorandum, the management informed the students that they would have to re-write the paper. The students have since then appealed the management’s decision. However, it has been rejected by the authorities of the institution.
In the appeal letter seen by this publication, the students argued that they were not aware of any malpractice as a class or individually. The students requested that the office of the registrar, led by Stanley Ngcwane, should explain what exactly the anomaly was and how it indicates malpractice. The letter was written by the classes’ representatives, Mphumelelo Mamba and Nompendulo Ntjangase and is dated July 10. They requested the administration of the institution to respond before the end of business on July 11.
“Secondly, the memorandum stresses that we have to re-write the paper. The question is why should we? Was there an investigation carried out to prove malpractice? If yes, carried out and where is the evidence that was discovered to conclude that there was malpractice? If not, we would like the office of the registrar to conduct a formal investigation on the matter, because unless there is proof of malpractice we will not rewrite the paper! To do so would be to admit guilt on a presumed action that we do know of,” reads part of the rejected appeal.
The students further stated that due to the urgency of the matter and seeing as that the academic year was soon coming to an end, they requested that the office of the registrar should work quickly on the matter. The students also asked the office of the registrar to work with them to prove or disprove any anomaly. Failing which, the students promised to seek professional advice to assist on the matter.
As per the students’ request, the Senate of the SANU, through Ngcwane’s office, responded to the appeal letter before the end of business on July 11
“You may be advised that Section 2 and Statutes VIII of the University Senate says, “the academic activities of the university shall be the responsibility of the University Senate. Section G6 Confirmation of results, Subsection 6.4, all grades must be confirmed by Senate before they are official,” reads part of the Senate’s response.
Ngcwane also quoted Subsection 6.5 which says Senate cannot alter any grades awarded by the Examination Board. Ngcwane further mentioned that it should be noted that his office’s mandate was to report a Senate resolution, hence informed the BSNM 3 students on the examination outcome of paper NUR 306 as approved by Senate.
The registrar’s office also cited Section G5, External Examiner 5.15 of the Calendar, which states that the External Examiners shall have the right to review all work contributing to summative assessment, including coursework, examination scripts, project reports and placement reports. Section 5.15 read alongside Section G4 Examination Board, 4.11. The grades agreed by the External Examiner after any moderation will not be altered by the Examination Board.
“Your attention is drawn to regulation G15 Academic Malpractice, in the SANU Calendar. Particular emphasis is drawn to Regulation G15.1, G15.2 and G15.4 in which the act of collusion is presented as an individual or group to gain a mark or grade to which they are not entitled,” reads the response.
The students were, however, advised in accordance with Section G16 Misconduct in Formal Examinations, 16.9. This section states that a candidate who wishes to appeal against a penalty imposed by the Examination Board for misconduct in an examination should do so in writing to the Senate within two weeks of the Examination Board’s ruling. No further appeals are possible.
Responding to the part where the students promised to seek professional advice on the matter, SANU said such a move was acknowledged. The students were advised to act in accordance with the academic appeal procedures; this is Section G17 of the Academic appeals.
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