Reconsider & revise LEAD learning structure!

Good day,  

I hope you take the time to read this petition and consider the grievances listed reasonably and fairly.  

There are a number of things that the majority students feel is to the detriment of us at LSSA UNISA currently and so it will be list them for your due consideration.  

1. After having received a newly posted yet unrevised exam timetable, it is difficult to understand how an exam can be scheduled (24 October - WET) a day before a main assignment is still due (25 October - ADR). Assignments are supposed to be the stepping stones to exams and should be finalised first before moving on to another way of testing.

2. It is extremely anti-progressive for there to be main assignments due for certain modules and then have extensive online assessments for the very same modules that had main assignments. It is, however, understandable as to why there would have to be online assessments for modules that did not have main assignments.  

The repetition of online assessments for modules that has main assignments is without benefit. Double assessments are not justifiable since it is not done for all modules. (we are not asking for double assessments for all modules, in fact, we plead that this be revised and reconsidered).  

3. We have never had a single Saturday lecture as indicated in the registration and acceptance papers of LSSA UNISA; it is understandable that 2020 has been a tough year and that some things are the product of these unfortunate circumstances, i.e. online case work; however, same cannot be justified for the online lectures that would have been online anyway; that is the very reason why assignment dates were changed and swapped around – so that online lectures could commence in order for students to understand the work we will be tested on (we have had zero help from the institution regarding understanding the work, zero!) How are we expected to go write exams about work we do not understand? How is this in our best interest?

4. All this overlaps with dates for supplementary exams. So, while writing exams, there are still main assignments due, online assessments with due dates up to and including 31 November and supplementary exams in between. There are several activities due on the 31st of October, mere days after our first exam (24 October); when do we get to complete those assessments and study for the next exam and pass – and in the event that we don’t study for supplementary exams? It is submitted that we were not informed that these activities prior to same appearing on the E-leader platform. The activities are extremely time consuming, and it is unreasonable to require the completion thereof by 31 October 2020, especially considering that many students are already enrolled for board exams to be written on 4 and 5 November 2020.   Many of us have registered with LSSA UNISA (distance) because we are working individuals. All of the above makes it extremely difficult and almost impossible to complete this course successfully. Further, it is of utmost importance to state that several students are not in a position to re-do this course – for financial reasons and by reason of the fact that many students are not busy with their articles of clerkship, and has taken initiative to complete PLTs to at least get an advantage.  

5. This course which has cost all of us R14 500 is unfortunately not worth its value.

What are we paying for? Announcements on e-leader and a team that does not even reply to email enquiries? We request clarity on the use of funds for our benefit and in the event where same is not provided, a refund apportioned to what we have actually received from this course (value for money).  

6. Lastly, it is imperative to point out that we do not even receive feedback on our assignments promptly! Feedback encourages progress and even motivation. We have currently submitted, to date, 11 assignments and have only received marks on 3 and feedback (memorandum) on 1 of them.  

We enquire again, how is the way things are being done in our best interest? How do we pass this course?  

We therefore kindly plea with you to grant us as follows:

1. Extension of the WET examination to 7 November 2020 or sometime thereafter;

2. That all online activities where said activities essentially duplicate the contents of the assignments, be scrapped;

3. Extension of the due dates, for all activities due on 31 October 2020, to 30 November 2020.

Sincerely,

Students enrolled for LSSA UNISA (distance), Second Semester, 2020.

Students enrolled for LSSA UNISA (distance), Second Semester, 2020.    Contact the author of the petition