Rhodes University has this morning announced its decision to shorten the duration of a semester to just two weeks.
The decision comes in light of developments leading into the notorious alcohol-free cram-fest that is SWOT week and also of studies into students' behaviour over the last five years.
"Our meticulous research has shown that people don't do any readings the whole semester, and just pull the last few essays out of thin air in the last few hours before a deadline - kind of like an exam," said research manager and clinical behaviourist Howie Euaktin.
He pointed out that they've had to contend with public perceptions that University should take many months out of your year in its transfer of knowledge.
"We've tried to get them more critically engaged and involved by saying that 'this essay/dissertation/thesis is not something that you can do the night or day before', but we're not fooling anyone," he said. "Especially when they basically have to do exactly that during exams, several times in quick succession. For years now, we've had people thinking that it should take months to learn all the important bits, but really this can be done in mere hours between lunch and back-to-back episodes of Community or Suits.
Rhodes students will now be given their year's coursework two weeks before a series of exams, thus eliminating the need for weeks of essays and practicals. It is a move that has been met with mixed reactions.
"I think it's great!" said third-year BCom student Carrie Balance. "This means I'll won't have to spend as much time pretending I'm doing work and complaining about the workload that I invariably leave until the last minute before telling every goddamn person on Facebook."
Others, however, have not been so happy.
"It's a load of garbage," said fourth-year Mark Reader. "Now how am I supposed to convince my dad that I need R1500 a month for 'printing', 'stationary' and 'sundry costs'?"
The move mirrors similar changes in the Education Sector by Minister for Basic Education Angie Motshekga, who recently changed the system of seven years of schooling to just a 'Yes or No' style multiple choice exam at the end of a three-day seminar.
