The vast majority of students at Stellenbosch University are in favour of completing the academic year without a shut-down. A survey among all Stellenbosch University students indicated that 93,92% (8 7 88 students) support the University's initiatives to continue with the academic programme. Students were eager to respond on issues of the impact of student protests on the academic project and the cost of higher education.

"At a discussion of five hours with students on 17 September 2016, Ms Tonia Overmeyer (Student Dean) and I explained our commitment to ensure that the academic year is completed successfully for all students," said Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor. "At the same time SU remains committed to financial aid for poor students to complete their studies. The University will exploit all additional funding options, because we cannot from our own resources provide free education for every one of our students. We also intend to lobby National Government to rectify the chronic underfunding of the Higher Education sector."

The survey on student opinions reveals that the overwhelming majority is in favour of continuing the academic programme and does not view fee-free education as imminent. Almost two thirds of students have sufficient information on the fee relief programmes offered by SU, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and the Department of Higher Education and Training.

The survey has a very high response rate of 29,4%. It consisted of five questions:

• The first question explored student opinion on interrupting the academic programme. (Q1: SU management would like to complete the academic year without shut-down. Do you support this?)
• The second question explored the students' impression on the imminence of fee-free education.(Q2: Do you believe that free higher education for all students is viable for next year?)
• The third question aimed to assess the degree to which students are informed about financial accommodations and relief (Q3: Are you sufficiently informed about the following relief for financially needy students? Students from household incomes less than R240 000 per annum pay no study fees, due to SU & NSFAS bursaries and loans. Students from household incomes less than R600 000 per annum will pay no study fee increases in 2017, due to extra Department of Higher Education and Training funding.)

The fourth and fifth questions related to the degree level (undergraduate and postgraduate) as well as the faculty of study. These two questions were optional.

Prof De Villiers emphasized that this result did not undermine the minority voice which alerts all SU stakeholders to the importance of continuing towards affordable and accessible education for all. "SU continues to be committed to enabling access and affordable quality education. However, the current wave of disruptive protests on campus, which has led to the disruption of academic activities and substantial damage to facilities, as well as physical and emotional harm to individuals, is unacceptable and impacts negatively on higher education opportunities for all students, including protesters and those they profess to support," he said.

Click here for the survey report.