The MEC for Health in Gauteng Hope Papo has decided to reopen the Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital nursing college after it was closed last month due to protracted student protests.
All nursing students and staff are expected to be at the college tomorrow (Monday, 11 February) to resume the 2013 academic programme.
The reopening follows an agreement reached by the Gauteng Department of Health, the students representative council and the college council yesterday.
In terms of the agreement the department will investigate allegations that students were failed in the academic years 2010 and 2011 and undertake a plan to rehabilitate nurse’s residences.
A task team of experts in nursing education will be set up to review the examination process including setting of the examination papers, storage of the papers, processes of gaining access to examinations, writing of examinations, marking, moderation and finalisation of marks. Examination scripts of all subjects written in 2010, 2011 and 2012 will be reviewed.
Noting that violent demonstrations and threatening the right of others to attend lectures were unacceptable, the students agreed on the extension of the 2013 academic year to end in March 2013 and that the amended academic programme may still be reviewed if necessary subject to approval by the senate.
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