TUT students to return to residences, with restrictions

This as TUT‘s first cohort of students were set to return to university residence in accordance with plans approved by the Department of Higher Education and Training, Pretoria Rekord reports.

The batch of students would consist of senior and first-year students.

They would return to the Pretoria, Ga-Rankuwa and Soshanguve campus residences. TUT Vice-Chancellor Prof Lourens van Staden, in a communiqué to students, said the phased return would include students studying their postgraduate, BTech, advanced diploma and final-year diplomas and professional degrees, as well as honours students.

“Students living with disabilities and members of the ISRC and CSRCs are also included,” said Van Staden.

From 26 August, senior students will be allowed to return to their respective residences.

“The phased return of first-year students to residences would commence from 14 September. He said their return would also see multi-modal teaching and learning continue.”

“This means students who have access to devices for digital teaching and learning will be able to use these to study. Alternatively, students must use their printed study material to continue with their studies,” Van Staden said.

He said, although residences and lecture halls had been cleaned and prepared according to Covid-19 regulations and health requirements, it was important to note that, based on an independent risk assessment report, the university had to ensure proper ventilation in all lecture venues before contact teaching and learning could resume.

“Work is currently underway to address this requirement, therefore multi-modal teaching and learning will continue for a while longer.”

For the health and safety of all students, only students who have received official notification letters from the university will be allowed to return.

“Van Staden said students had to present the notification letters to security in order to be allowed access to campuses and for off-campus student accommodations.”

Campus task teams have also been activated to assist with the reception of residence students.

He said students could return between 09:00 and 15:00 daily. Students returning are also reminded to download Higher Health’s Covid-19 digital risk assessment and mapping tool, HealthCheck, on their phones.

HealthCheck is a Covid-19 daily screening tool which ensures the health of students and staff members. Van Staden said the use of the tool daily would provide proof that students had done a self-check. He said the results would also be used to show security at the TUT in order to be cleared to enter campuses.

“Adherence to international and national Covid-19 protocols and regulations, namely wearing face masks, regular washing and sanitising of hands, as well as maintaining social distancing protocols remain critical.”

Van Staden said in line with national regulations, restrictions on social gatherings remained in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

He urged students and staff to ensure that they followed health and safety requirements on campus.

“Report all Covid-19 cases immediately to assist the Department of Health and TUT in managing the pandemic at healthreports@tut.ac.za.”

An announcement with regards to the return of second-year students will be made once the national lockdown regulations have been revised to level 1.

TUT spokesperson Willa de Ruyter said no outside visitors, students or SRC gatherings will be allowed on any campuses until further notice.De Ruyter said no students with alcohol in their possession would be allowed on campus or residencies.

“The 22:00 level 2 lockdown regulations will prevail on campus,” she said.

ALSO READ: Nzimande announces new higher education regulations, responds to corruption allegations