Plight of New Era students

Innocent Selatlhwa | Friday March 4, 2016 13:33

It has been a number of years since New Era College students have been complaining of lack of learning material and structures for some of the courses they enroll in.

More than once, the students were dispersed from the Gaborone streets by the riot police on their way to see the leaders at the Ministry of Education and Skills Development headquarters.

Going back to the Wednesday meeting, the current Student Representative Council (SRC) president, Anderson Diteko said they were left in shock as the minister opened her palms but nothing came out.

“Assistant minister Fidelis  Molao had promised us that they were investigating our issues and that we would get a response by the 22nd of February, but that didn’t happen. Now minister Dow comes, makes no reference to what Molao had said and promises us that BQA will investigate and that we will get a response in two weeks,” he said.

Diteko, who was recently suspended and won his case in court, said they were shocked as Dow told them  that whoever wanted to continue with school should raise their hands and those who did not want should leave.

“We then realised that she did not really come to rescue us, rather she is on the management’s side. We decided that we would not go back to school until our issues are resolved,” he said.

The student leader however said they now find themselves in a difficult situation as the management has ordered that all students should re register in an effort to intimidate them. “They are also making us sign documents which will bar us from holding any gathering in the school. This is just pure oppression which as students we have vowed not to bow to,” he said.

In an interview, Dow said the purpose was to give the students an opportunity to further expand on their complaints against their school. “I had met the SRC last week Tuesday at a meeting that lasted more than three hours.

During that meeting and at yesterday’s meeting, the students restated their complaints. Amongst the complaints were that the school does not provide adequate practicals; has slow Internet; has inadequate library facilities and has failed to provide adequate or appropriate resources  (human and otherwise) for some of the programmmes,” she said.

Dow said the students voted not to come back to school until their demands are met. She said since tertiary students are generally adults who can be adviced but not instructed, she adviced them that since BQA was investigating their complaints, they give that process two more weeks, and that in the meantime they resume classes.

“Generally, any student who dared to support the advice was shouted down and finally only one woman voted for return to classes.

As far as the Ministry of Education is concerned, the complaints merit address and the management of New Era will be engaged by the BQA. BQA will, in addition advice the ministry on the way forward,” she said.