Polytech students say they won’t take no for an answer

STUDENTS at the Polytechnic of Namibia say they are continuing to push for their demands to be met.

The Students’ Representative Council (SRC) held a press conference in Windhoek on Friday to give their perspective on what happened at a meeting with management last week. “The issues were not all resolved but were discussed and resolutions were made on the way forward, since management didn’t have the power over the most critical issues, so they are still pending,” SRC president Hileni Shikwambi said.One of the main issues that about 300 students protested against on the campus two weeks ago was a decision by the Polytechnic not to allow students to sit for exams unless their student accounts were settled in full.Management last week responded by saying that students are contractually bound to settle their accounts.It said students owed the Polytechnic N$22 million and this situation could not be allowed to deteriorate further.On Friday, the SRC said they were drafting a submission to the institution’s council on the matter, which they hope will receive a positive response before the next exams in November.It was the council who implemented this new rule, students said, and therefore it should be council who was asked to review it.Another of the students’ grievances was the annual increase in tuition fees.Management said last week that student fees had already been approved for 2008 and could not be changed at this stage.Shikwambi said the SRC had scheduled a meeting with the Polytech management and the Ministry of Education to discuss the matter of tuition fees.The SRC said it was successful in getting a second graduation ceremony for students who failed to complete their studies in time for the original ceremony in March.It says the SRC would also now have more say in the distribution of funds from the students’ activities fund.The fund caters for the various clubs, social groups and other activities on campus, and is funded by a student contribution of N$25.The students thanked management for meeting with them, saying that they had not been given such an opportunity before.Representatives of the Namibia National Students’ Organisation (Nanso) were also present at the conference.Nanso Secretary General Neville Andre thanked the Polytech management for “finally coming to their senses” in meeting with the students, and thanked students for supporting the SRC in their drive.”What has happened at the Polytechnic of Namibia is an example of true student democracy.This should be al lesson to all other institutions in the education sector, that students have the capability to ensure that management fairly address their needs and concerns,” Andre said.”The issues were not all resolved but were discussed and resolutions were made on the way forward, since management didn’t have the power over the most critical issues, so they are still pending,” SRC president Hileni Shikwambi said.One of the main issues that about 300 students protested against on the campus two weeks ago was a decision by the Polytechnic not to allow students to sit for exams unless their student accounts were settled in full.Management last week responded by saying that students are contractually bound to settle their accounts.It said students owed the Polytechnic N$22 million and this situation could not be allowed to deteriorate further.On Friday, the SRC said they were drafting a submission to the institution’s council on the matter, which they hope will receive a positive response before the next exams in November.It was the council who implemented this new rule, students said, and therefore it should be council who was asked to review it.Another of the students’ grievances was the annual increase in tuition fees.Management said last week that student fees had already been approved for 2008 and could not be changed at this stage.Shikwambi said the SRC had scheduled a meeting with the Polytech management and the Ministry of Education to discuss the matter of tuition fees.The SRC said it was successful in getting a second graduation ceremony for students who failed to complete their studies in time for the original ceremony in March.It says the SRC would also now have more say in the distribution of funds from the students’ activities fund.The fund caters for the various clubs, social groups and other activities on campus, and is funded by a student contribution of N$25.The students thanked management for meeting with them, saying that they had not been given such an opportunity before.Representatives of the Namibia National Students’ Organisation (Nanso) were also present at the conference.Nanso Secretary General Neville Andre thanked the Polytech management for “finally coming to their senses” in meeting with the students, and thanked students for supporting the SRC in their drive.”What has happened at the Polytechnic of Namibia is an example of true student democracy.This should be al lesson to all other institutions in the education sector, that students have the capability to ensure that management fairly address their needs and concerns,” Andre said.