Students bring Poly to a halt

THE handing over of a student petition at the Polytechnic of Namibia yesterday turned into a major event when students refused to deal with anyone but the institution’s Rector, Dr Tjama Tjivikua.

More than 300 students gathered in front of the administration building at around 09h00, intent on voicing their grievances about the institution’s management. The group only disbanded at around midday, after numerous attempts at cornering Tjivikua finally paid off.The students had earlier refused to hand over their petition to Dean of Students Frieda Shimbuli, arguing that she was powerless to help them.An attempt by Vice Rector Gert Gunzel to address the students also failed.At one point students blocked off the entrance to the main campus after being told that Tjivikua was about to enter.Visitors to the campus library and the engineering block had their freedom of movement affected when security was forced to lock the outside gates to these premises in order to keep demonstrators out.Many of the demonstrators managed to climb over the fence or sneak through the bars, which eventually led to their cornering Tjivikua, accompanied by Education Minister Nangolo Mbumba, as he emerged from opening a science fair hosted by the Polytechnic.In their petition, which was then read to Tjivikua and Mbumba by SRC president Hileni Shikwambi, students took exception to a new rule which only allows them to sit for exams if they have a zero balance on their account.They also protested the annual increase of tuition fees, saying that management was not considerate of students’ financial circumstances.The students further demanded more control over the annual Student Activity Fund, to which students contribute and which is used for sports, societies, choir activities and social clubs.This money, Shikwambi said, never actually benefits the students, except for “the autocratic annual cultural festival”.The petition further made suggestions on the timing of supplementary exams, demands for greater SRC representation on council and senate meetings, and penalties for library offences, which they say are too harsh.The students have given management until 16h00 on Thursday to respond to their petition, following which they said “further action” would be taken.Tjivikua said management would reply to the students’ demands through the “correct channels”.Speaking to The Namibian later, Tjivikua said all the students’ concerns had been brought up at one point or another, but had previously been dismissed.”They’re asking for a greater representation on the council and in senate, but that goes against the law,” he said, referring to the Polytechnic of Namibia Act, which allows one student representative.The group only disbanded at around midday, after numerous attempts at cornering Tjivikua finally paid off.The students had earlier refused to hand over their petition to Dean of Students Frieda Shimbuli, arguing that she was powerless to help them.An attempt by Vice Rector Gert Gunzel to address the students also failed.At one point students blocked off the entrance to the main campus after being told that Tjivikua was about to enter.Visitors to the campus library and the engineering block had their freedom of movement affected when security was forced to lock the outside gates to these premises in order to keep demonstrators out. Many of the demonstrators managed to climb over the fence or sneak through the bars, which eventually led to their cornering Tjivikua, accompanied by Education Minister Nangolo Mbumba, as he emerged from opening a science fair hosted by the Polytechnic.In their petition, which was then read to Tjivikua and Mbumba by SRC president Hileni Shikwambi, students took exception to a new rule which only allows them to sit for exams if they have a zero balance on their account.They also protested the annual increase of tuition fees, saying that management was not considerate of students’ financial circumstances.The students further demanded more control over the annual Student Activity Fund, to which students contribute and which is used for sports, societies, choir activities and social clubs.This money, Shikwambi said, never actually benefits the students, except for “the autocratic annual cultural festival”.The petition further made suggestions on the timing of supplementary exams, demands for greater SRC representation on council and senate meetings, and penalties for library offences, which they say are too harsh.The students have given management until 16h00 on Thursday to respond to their petition, following which they said “further action” would be taken.Tjivikua said management would reply to the students’ demands through the “correct channels”.Speaking to The Namibian later, Tjivikua said all the students’ concerns had been brought up at one point or another, but had previously been dismissed.”They’re asking for a greater representation on the council and in senate, but that goes against the law,” he said, referring to the Polytechnic of Namibia Act, which allows one student representative.