INSTITUTIONAL SRC INDUCTION PUTS FOCUS ON STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH

WSU senior management is making strong guidance efforts to orientate the incoming Institutional Students Representative Council on institutional governance and policy. Underscored boldly in the staff presentations were health facilities provided by the university for students with chronic illnesses and mental health issues.

Buffalo City Campus student affairs deputy-director, Ntsiki Nohako-Mtiki pressed emphatically on the importance of mental health amongst all students within higher education institutions.

“You may think it’s only old people who get sick. However, we have transferred a lot of students to doctors,” said Nohako-Mtiki.

Her sobering presentation saw to conscientise the ISRC about the self-medicating of students with drugs and alcohol as a result of mental health issues.

Nohako-Mtiki raised caution that there have been many cases of students who were susceptible to suicide.

This was seconded by Mthatha SRC Premier: Litha “Ray” Ngalonkulu who said “Psychology sessions should be available and compulsory for all student leaders. Not everyone can take the pressures of being in political leadership whether they know it or not.”

WSU’s Transformation Agenda as presented by the University’s Transformation Manager, Mr Mbongo, at the ISRC induction workshop: 1. Meeting equality targets of gender representation in middle and senior management positions. 2. Put in place a language policy that promotes access and success of all students. 3. A curriculum that is socially relevant and responsible to the department needs of the country.

WSU Acting Vice-Chancellor - Prof Songca added to the leadership deliberations with a concern for budding leadership that is not exposed to global perspectives of thought.

“Sizalelwa la. Sakhulela la. Sihlala la. We lack a world view. We need to expose our leaders,” she said. “When a woman is in leadership there’s always an expectation of her to coddle people, otherwise you are labled as aloof. Whereas men are expected to roar. As leaders you need to be aware of these nuances,” concluded Songca.

by Sinawo Hermans