FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS RECEIVE MUCH-NEEDED SUPPORT AHEAD OF EXAMS

As a majority of WSU first-year students prepare for their first university exams, the institution has, in its wisdom, instituted an intervention aimed at equipping students with tools necessary for one's ability to maneuver the upcoming exams.

A substantial number of students gathered at the Potsdam Site Great Hall on the first day of the 'First-Year Exam Preparation Workshop' to listen attentively important information related to the examinations and all the appropriate rules, regulations and policies related.

In a presentation titled "Enhancing Student Success Through the First-Year Experience (FYE) Programme", WSU acting FYE manager, Sipho Sizani, made fundamental observations about the WSU first-year student profile, and the requisite tools and strategies needed to remedy some of their challenges.

"With WSU being a university that is rurally-dominated, with schools that are in Quintiles 1–3, first-time entering students coming from these communities lack basic computer literacy skills, reading and writing skills, medical and psychosocial support services, as well as access to libraries, as compared to other students from affluent communities, therefore it is critical that we provide them with impactful support they need to succeed," said Sizani.

Expounding on the strategic importance and imperatives of the FYE, he said the programme is a university-wide student success strategy, approved by Senate in 2020. It's an intervention rooted in transition pedagogy and focuses on improving student retention, throughput, and engagement, and offers academic, emotional, and social support to ensure that no student is left behind.

Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology faculty officer, Gwen Skiti, followed up with invaluable insight in a bid to enlighten students regarding academic assessments, DP marks, academic promotions and exclusions.

On assessments, Skiti distinguished between two type of assessments – those being a formative assessments and summative assessments.  

“Formative assessments are done throughout the semester or year to assess whether students are progressing well and provide feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of students in the module.  These assessments also guide the lecturers in improving their teaching skills and methods.”

Summative assessment on the other hand measures the skills and knowledge a student has gained over the entire instructional period.  It covers the work that the student has studied throughout the semester or year. They determine how well the student has met the module’s learning objectives by comparing it to against some standard or benchmark.  To qualify to write the Summative Assessment you must obtain a Year (DP) mark of a minimum of 40% but other modules require a student to obtain a minimum of 50% if there is paper 1 and 2,” she said.

Buffalo City Campus Chief Examinations Officer, Sindiswa Manqina, honed in on the finer details and procedures one must be aware of as they prepare for exams.

Much of Manqina’s presentation was premised on the documentation needed by students before they enter an exam venue; what they should expect in the actual venue during the exam; and what processes one needs to undertake should they not be able to write an exam due to extenuating circumstances.

By Thando Cezula