A lot be has been going on at LUCT recently. Towards the end of February this year, LUCT students embarked on a class boycott and a peaceful demonstration to protest what they termed lack of consultation by university management. The students were not happy with the arrangement between the university and the Department of Tertiary Education Financing (DTEF). Through the SRC, the students explained that upon enrolling, they signed a memorandum of agreement that defined the relationship that students would have with both the university and DTEF. They complained that students previously had all their book allowances deposited into their bank accounts, but now the money has been split into two instalments. According to the students, 50 percent of their book allowance was deposited into the bookshop account while the other half is deposited into their bank accounts.
They queried the failure by management to consult with them before implementing this new arrangement. They also expressed their unhappiness with the school bookshop that started operating in 2011, alleging that the bookstore had shortage of material that they needed for practical subjects and serviced less than 35 percent of the university community. At that time, the university management said it was willing to dialogue with the student leadership to resolve the problem. Two months later, a love-hate relationship between LUCT and the SRC unravelled in the form of a class boycott to protest - once again -the suspension of student leaders. It was reported that police used teargas to disperse the striking students. Rather tactlessly, the Ministry of Education issued a stern warning to the students that they would lose their government sponsored scholarships if they did not return to class.
