Hotel Ceremonies Waste Money

ALLOW my voice to be heard through your distinguished daily newspaper on the ‘vandalism’ of the Government’s and students’ money by the two Namibian institutions of higher education, Polytechnic and the University of Namibia, on their annual graduation ceremonies.

I do not see any point for the institutions to leave their own buildings for five-star hotels for graduation ceremonies. There are halls in the institutions and or some community halls all over the capital city, where the rent will obviously be more reasonable than the hotels.What is the point of attending the ceremonies at the hotels yet there are no outstanding achievements or only few students managed to get good marks? Is it because of cash flow into the institutions’ pocket from the 10 per cent fee increment per year or the taxpayer’s money? If so, then you are misusing the resources.Unam cannot even recruit people, only knows how to acquire money for graduations.I suggest that the annual graduations should take place at the institutions and or at local community halls to avoid spending the Government money and students’ fees.To me a 10 per cent fee increment per year includes fees for hotels during graduations.If more than 50 per cent of the graduates have ‘Distinctions’ (which is impossible), then they can go to hotels if they want to ‘boast’.Stop misusing money and start recruiting new staff, introducing new study equipment, giving bursaries, building more campuses and simply concentrate on giving knowledge to the nation.Concerned Namibian, Via e-mail Note: Name and address provided – EdThere are halls in the institutions and or some community halls all over the capital city, where the rent will obviously be more reasonable than the hotels.What is the point of attending the ceremonies at the hotels yet there are no outstanding achievements or only few students managed to get good marks? Is it because of cash flow into the institutions’ pocket from the 10 per cent fee increment per year or the taxpayer’s money? If so, then you are misusing the resources.Unam cannot even recruit people, only knows how to acquire money for graduations.I suggest that the annual graduations should take place at the institutions and or at local community halls to avoid spending the Government money and students’ fees.To me a 10 per cent fee increment per year includes fees for hotels during graduations.If more than 50 per cent of the graduates have ‘Distinctions’ (which is impossible), then they can go to hotels if they want to ‘boast’.Stop misusing money and start recruiting new staff, introducing new study equipment, giving bursaries, building more campuses and simply concentrate on giving knowledge to the nation.Concerned Namibian, Via e-mail Note: Name and address provided – Ed