Concern about students’ fees

A SWAPO MP in the National Council has criticised the delay in setting up satellite campuses of the University of Namibia outside Windhoek.

Margareth Mensah-Williams, Deputy Vice Chairperson of the National Council, told the House yesterday that students from outside Windhoek find it difficult to get accommodation in the hostel at Unam. “However, when people call for additional satellite universities in places like the Karas Region, it falls on deaf ears,” she said.”No wonder students are squatting because they don’t have money for the exorbitant accommodation fees in Windhoek.”She said students with bursaries from institutions such as Telecom can’t cover all their study costs, as these institutions do not pay out the money on time.”While the person is in charge of bursaries, they expect students to leave their studies and parade on a weekly basis in front of his office to receive payment.If they are not prepared to live up to the expectations of these students and community at large, they should not offer these bursaries to students,” she said.Mensah-Williams was speaking during debate on the 2007-2008 Appropriation Bill in the National Council.Swapo’s Levy Katoma said more vocational training institutions were needed for people who don’t qualify for university studies.”In this way, they will become job creators and not job seekers as it is the case now,” Katoma said.”However, when people call for additional satellite universities in places like the Karas Region, it falls on deaf ears,” she said.”No wonder students are squatting because they don’t have money for the exorbitant accommodation fees in Windhoek.”She said students with bursaries from institutions such as Telecom can’t cover all their study costs, as these institutions do not pay out the money on time.”While the person is in charge of bursaries, they expect students to leave their studies and parade on a weekly basis in front of his office to receive payment.If they are not prepared to live up to the expectations of these students and community at large, they should not offer these bursaries to students,” she said.Mensah-Williams was speaking during debate on the 2007-2008 Appropriation Bill in the National Council.Swapo’s Levy Katoma said more vocational training institutions were needed for people who don’t qualify for university studies.”In this way, they will become job creators and not job seekers as it is the case now,” Katoma said.