Load shedding seems to have hit university students the hardest during a crucial time in their studies. This comes as some of them have had to forfeit their online exams due to power outages.
The ongoing Eskom power outages are affecting many university students’ online exams. The power cuts, according to university students, are leading them to fall behind in their studies.
Universities introduced online learning in response to the outbreak of Covid-19 last year, making a consistent and reliable power supply essential for the success of their students.
Unisa law student Milicent Sambo is among those that had the unfortunate experience of a power outage during an online exam.
The 26-year-old was in the middle of a 2-hour Contract Law exam when it was cut short due thirty minutes later due to a power outage. She said that this amounts to a waste of time and money since she will only be able to sit for the exam next year.
So in that time of me looking for electricity, calling my mother and driving to a place where there would be electricity, that’s time wasted from my exam.
Students have urged the government to assist them by holding off on the power cuts during that exam period
Eskom confirmed in a statement on Friday this past week that Stage 2 load shedding will carry on until 05:00 am Thursday this week according to the power utility.
The most recent power cuts resulted from a breakdown at the Matimba Power Station and several other problems with Eskom’s power generation fleet.