I share the sentiment which begin to say, all progressive froces alike should take a keen interest at recent devlopments at TUT and ultimatly provide a solution to this problem. Whereas the objectives of the Merger are noble and progressive, its implementation remains problematic and retrogressive.A variety of factors can be attributed to this unfortunate state of affairs, but central to them is the role of Goverment in higher education and merger program in particular.
We all agree that the dual education system as created by aperthied was raectionary and unsastainable.The system had to be changed into a more inclusive,intergrated,qualitative and responssive one. The merger was born out of this reality,to neccessarily address matters pertaining redress,access with success,transformation, funding etc. We need to be honest in terms of the vision, focus, capacity and leadership of Department of Education in so far as merger was concrned. My own personal analsis is that the Department lacked a comprohensive and unitary strategy to implement,coordinate and oversee the Merger process. The Department simply entrusted leadership f Higher Education Institutions with the responsbility to manage the merger process. Let us take for instance the process of Insitutional Operational Plan and Topography, i believe it would have been a good move for the Department to be at the centre of such critical processes. On the contrary the Department allowed Institutions to draw their own plans, only for the Department to comment later when the process is underway. TUT for an example exploited this gap by coming with a probelmatic Topography of Faculity based Campuses, you also look at the orgonogram of 4 DVC. We must also point out to the fact that Trade Unions at TUT have not been helpfull in terms of how they see the process. In fact there is a problem of opportunism there, some trade union leaders agree with certain reactionary decisions only when it personally benefits them. They then oppose even rational proposals when it suits them. Equelly we must take a balme as a student movement, the truth of the matter is that we have never devaloped a concrete and detailed position on the implementation of the merger process and such individuals were quided by their feelings and prefrences. What you need at TUT therefore is a sort of polotical leadeship process of bringing people together, it is clear that all forces are pulling in different directions.The Visioon,Mission,Strategi direction and objectives of the Institution has not been adequatly shared and debated by all key stakeholders. The Institution itsels is faced with number of challenges including a high salary bill of more than 70% of its total budget(recommended salary bill is 62%), huge infrastructural disparaties and backlog, law pass rate and graduation rate etc. we therefore need a decisive leadershipo that will share these challnges with stakeholders and make everybody understand the State of the Institution. For this part, i agree that EMC under Prof Tyobeka has failed dismally to lead that process of pulling forces together. In the final analysis, my view is that Goverment should review the merger process. We also need a focus infrastructural program of revamping Historically disadvantaged campuses. > Thanks Cde Tsholo for raising such a discussion. > > TUT is as a result of merger of three former technikons, namely TNG, TNW > and Pretoria Tech. one of the fundamental basis of its establishment was > sharing of resources that were mainly centered in historically advantaged > Pretoria Technikon. In my view, this was meant to redress the injustices > of the past. It was therefore important to use a weighted average method > on realigning these resources including human resource capital. > > What we have seen, since 2004, is a reactionary management that wanted to > abuse the space of newness and divert the focus from redress to a totally > new beginning. Decision affecting both students and employees were so > reactionary that ever since its establishment, there were industrial > actions in the beginning and mid year or towards the end of the year. > > The appointment of professor Tyobeka did not assist anyhow. He became a > worse monster to a newly born institution of higher learning. He runs TUT > like his home. He takes unilateral decision. The Phasha-led SRC did not > agree with Torpography as it is implemented now. The Arthur-led SRC tried > but in vain to reverse the Topography. > > Graduation ceremonies are held in two of the six campuses each year > costing the graduates a fortune to attend what should be their celebration > for their hard fought achievement. This is done in the name of economic > viability and saving consciousness at the expense of students. > > The union agreed with a "Match and Place" process of integrating employees > who fell outside of the agreed TUT structure. Its implementation sucks, > employees are technically demoted through this process because there is a > reduction in salaries. Senior officials are only placed in the Pretoria > campus. Worse of them all is that the campuses in Mpumalanga and Limpopo > are still treated as satellite campuses while the IOP regards all campuses > as equal. > > In 2007, employees entered into a strike in July/August. The threat of > closing down the institution was there until students joined the strike > (solely to end it). Instead of 9.5% increase they resolved on 9.45% which > is an insignificant difference that could have not taken the strike to the > two weeks period it lasted. > > I believe that the only solution to that institution is a voluntary > resignation of Prof Tyobeka, Prof Nevhutalu and Ms Mashabela. They are a > team of reactionary forces within TUT. I suppose they take mandate from > someone within the department. I suspect Ms Naledi Pandor shalll follow > them as they leave our developmental centre. > > Amandla!! > >>>> <[email protected]> 11/02/2009 08:24 >>> > > Comrades i am a proud graduate of TUT and whats happening right know > breaks my heart. and i want tyo appeal to all comrades who feel as i do > about the issues to start a progressive discussion which will end up in us > taking some action! > > i must ofcoz make ny plea clear, i think that comrades who served in the > SRC and broader student leadership structure between 2001 & 2004 are best > placed to assist, no offence to anybody else and this does not limit > others to assist, i mean all those of u(us) who at soem point or another > were involved in the MMT's will have better background. > > Oh comrade this is not a platform for us to start question each others > credentials, so i dont expect any comrades to blame comrades from other > campus for 'saling out' - wat ever that means. or for comrades to accuse > previous student leadership for lacking decisive. > > all of the above are important to note and remember but they cant and wont > be of any help in what needs to be done! > > So lets all put our heads together as some of us are not willing to seat > by and let TUT close doors! 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