Scholarships for Algeria

Allow us a space in your newspaper to express our cry to the Namibian nation.

The scholarships for Algeria have been misunderstood by the Namibian Government (Ministry of Education). This has led us students to suffer the consequences, and we live in a very difficult situation in Algeria.This hardship will soon lead us into temptation for the sake of survival.We are group of five Namibian students (first promotion), pursuing our studies in the fields of engineering and medicine here in Algeria under the so-called “scholarship” programme.Before our departure, the Government cancelled our contract by making us believe that we would get money in Algeria as the Algerian Embassy promised.After we arrived here, we realised that it was just a story used to praise Algeria.We can’t blame the Algerian Ambassador because he played his part like any ambassador.Back to our Government, we tried to explain the situation from our first week here, which was September 22 2005.This is now our ninth month, but we have had no help.When the PS came here in mid-February 2006, we thought our prayer had been answered, but ever since he left all we hear is that our money will be sent next week.When is next week? We need immediate rescue.The renewal of the contract is taking nine months while the cancellation took only 10 minutes.Why? What we are going through is embarrassing and is a very bad picture.We are the ambassadors here, but we are unable to promote our country because of what we are going through.People have made their own conclusions already.We thought it was necessary to cry to the nation so that we can work together to face the Ministry of Education, so that we would be the last students to suffer.We care for all Namibians and we don’t want them to undergo such hell.People might need to understand the condition of the scholarship.We are living in Algeria for nine months but none of us got the money from the Algerian government and there is no guarantee that we will get it soon – we might finish our studies without getting it.This means we don’t need additional funds but we need a loan that we will pay back.In fact when the PS came, he blamed us for not forcing the Algerian government to give us money.I wonder how we could do that, if our own Government is ignoring us? Do you really think that the Algerian government would make provision for Namibians? We want to make ourselves clear that we have lessons to attend, rather than force people to change their strategy of working.Above all, we are just victims.The blame goes to the Ministry of Education which signed the agreement without enough information about the scholarship and Algeria at large.We only have three weeks to end the year of studies, then summer holidays start, a four-month holiday.All student services will be closed and this includes the kitchen.The question is, how are we going to eat? Can we ask the Namibian drought programme to help if possible? We are crying to the Ministry of Education and the Namibian nation at large to help us.We don’t want to become involved in any illegal business – we want to remain responsible and concerned Namibians for the dream of Namibia to come true.As the leaders of tomorrow, we focus on the development of Namibia in line with Vision 2030.To conclude, we are urging Namibians to look at this from all angles, this is not just students’ talk.The situation is not just affecting us physically but mentally as well.It would be good if The Namibian could get feedback for us, since we need it for our progress.It is good if the Government invests money in education.We are also urging the Ministry of Education to investigate first before they sign agreements, because it is very dangerous to send students to a country where you don’t know the strategy.Namibian students Algiers Note: Names of the five students provided – EdThis has led us students to suffer the consequences, and we live in a very difficult situation in Algeria.This hardship will soon lead us into temptation for the sake of survival.We are group of five Namibian students (first promotion), pursuing our studies in the fields of engineering and medicine here in Algeria under the so-called “scholarship” programme.Before our departure, the Government cancelled our contract by making us believe that we would get money in Algeria as the Algerian Embassy promised.After we arrived here, we realised that it was just a story used to praise Algeria.We can’t blame the Algerian Ambassador because he played his part like any ambassador.Back to our Government, we tried to explain the situation from our first week here, which was September 22 2005.This is now our ninth month, but we have had no help.When the PS came here in mid-February 2006, we thought our prayer had been answered, but ever since he left all we hear is that our money will be sent next week.When is next week? We need immediate rescue.The renewal of the contract is taking nine months while the cancellation took only 10 minutes.Why? What we are going through is embarrassing and is a very bad picture.We are the ambassadors here, but we are unable to promote our country because of what we are going through.People have made their own conclusions already.We thought it was necessary to cry to the nation so that we can work together to face the Ministry of Education, so that we would be the last students to suffer.We care for all Namibians and we don’t want them to undergo such hell.People might need to understand the condition of the scholarship.We are living in Algeria for nine months but none of us got the money from the Algerian government and there is no guarantee that we will get it soon – we might finish our studies without getting it.This means we don’t need additional funds but we need a loan that we will pay back.In fact when the PS came, he blamed us for not forcing the Algerian government to give us money.I wonder how we could do that, if our own Government is ignoring us? Do you really think that the Algerian government would make provision for Namibians? We want to make ourselves clear that we have lessons to attend, rather than force people to change their strategy of working.Above all, we are just victims.The blame goes to the Ministry of Education which signed the agreement without enough information about the scholarship and Algeria at large.We only have three weeks to end the year of studies, then summer holidays start, a four-month holiday.All student services will be closed and this includes the kitchen.The question is, how are we going to eat? Can we ask the Namibian drought programme to help if possible? We are crying to the Ministry of Education and the Namibian nation at large to help us.We don’t want to become involved in any illegal business – we want to remain responsible and concerned Namibians for the dream of Namibia to come true.As the leaders of tomorrow, we focus on the development of Namibia in line with Vision 2030.To conclude, we are urging Namibians to look at this from all angles, this is not just students’ talk.The situation is not just affecting us physically but mentally as well.It would be good if The Namibian could get feedback for us, since we need it for our progress.It is good if the Government invests money in education.We are also urging the Ministry of Education to investigate first before they sign agreements, because it is very dangerous to send students to a country where you don’t know the strategy.Namibian students Algiers Note: Names of the five students provided – Ed