THE University of Namibia (Unam) is under fire for relocating students during their exams to make way for renovations ahead of the Region 5 Youth Games.
Despite the successful relocation of students, Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) deputy secretary Donna Gamatham yesterday criticised Unam for compromising students’ examinations over sport.
She described the move by Unam to relocate students from its Windhoek campus hostel in the middle of their exams as poor planning and unacceptable.
Earlier this month, Unam issued a notice directing all students accommodated in the hostel to vacate it for the purpose of renovations in preparation of the Region 5 Youth Games from 4 to 13 July.
“Our stance remains that students and their exams (at the core of our academic journey) should not have been compromised, and it should have been prioritised when planning the academic calendar, knowing very well that Unam is hosting the Region 5 Youth Games,” she said.
Gamatham said Nanso is disappointed, pointing out that students’ mental health has been compromised during their exams.
She, however, confirmed that all students have been moved to the Old Hostel and Concordia College.
Unam spokesperson Simon Namesho last week said international and nursing students have been moved to Emona hostel.
He said about 400 remaining students who were supposed to be relocated on 25 June were successfully moved to Concordia College.
“The delay in this was due to some students not wanting to move until they got their exam results to see whether they passed or not,” he said.
He said all students have been relocated and renovations for the games are underway.
Namesho said students remain Unam’s priority and assured that all their needs would be addressed.
Transport from the current accommodation to the university’s main campus has been provided, he said.
A student who spoke on condition of anonymity last week said exams had to be replicated, disrupting the examination calendar, but he was grateful that accommodation concerns had been sorted out.
The student, however, criticised Unam for poor planning and advised the institute to not jeopardise exams.
Unam’s students representative council had submitted a petition to the university leadership, rejecting the relocation order and calling for its reversal.
It scrutinised the university’s plans to ensure students’ interests were protected.
The African Union Sports Council Region 5 Youth Games’ 11th edition will be hosted in Windhoek and at Swakopmund, after the initial host country, Mozambique, was withdrawn due to ongoing political instability.
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