UBSRC to fight for student sponsorships

BABOKI KAYAWE
Staff Writer | Thursday June 27, 2013 00:00

He argued that the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee  (PAC) heard recently that the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) had not spent millions in the 2011-2012 financial year, yet it is failing to sponsor more students. He asked the logic behind denying a student who has done nine semesters or almost 90 percent of studies the chance of finishing the remaining semester.

He said this is a waste of public funds. 'How can an enlightened and learned man opt to save a mere P2,600 cost of a single retake to lose more than P100,000 spent for nine semesters?' he asked. According to Gombalume, the SRC and the student community will use all means possible to fight the issue of sponsorships.  Appearing before the PAC early this month, Ministry of Education PS, Grace Muzila said the millions of Pula were returned to government treasury because of tendering processes that lacked capacity.

Tiro Diepo, UBSRC vice president told the student community that the supplementary examinations are back pending implementation by faculty deans.The university stopped conducting the exams in 2011 causing a protest by students. 'We are at a point where we should not ask ourselves whether supplementary exams are back or not but rather when they will be written,' Diepo said.

He added that it is unfortunate that it does not look like the exams will be written in the coming semester due to 'implementation processes'. Apparently, the process involves consultations with lecturers, sponsors, contractual negotiations, technical arrangements and regulations. Meanwhile, the SRC is opposed to plans to close the famous campus bar, popularly known as 411. SRC says the closure will result in many social ills to learners.  It says lack of entertainment would lead to instances where students drink elsewhere, which could result in robberies and killings after drinking sprees.

In addition, the student leaders fear high rates of indulgence in sexual activities and an escalation of the HIV/AIDS prevalence.  SRC president, Kago Mokotedi said 'the bar is part of our heritage and we shall fight for it'.