ABM University College students left in the lurch

No Image

Parents of beginning students at ABM University College allege that the university has left their children in the lurch, with an unplanned mass transfer of students to the school's Francistown campus.

Frantic parents who spoke to Mmegi this week said their children, who were admitted to the school in March, were scheduled to start school at the Gaborone campus this month. They say this past week, the school informed them about their decision to transfer students to the Francistown campus, days before classes were scheduled to start.Classes in the Gaborone campus started yesterday, while they are scheduled to start on August 28th in Francistown. Students at the Francistown campus are expected to be taken for orientation today.  One parent who spoke to Mmegi, on condition of anonymity, said she was dismayed to learn of the school's decision, as she had already looked for and paid for her child's accommodation in Gaborone. Neither the Francistown nor Gaborone campus offers on-campus accommodation for students.

"I now have to go to Francistown to look for accommodation there, and it is already late," she said.  She said the school had not given them a reason for their unceremonious decision, but speculated that they might have admitted too many students, resulting in overcrowding in their Gaborone campus. She was also unhappy that the school opens later than all other tertiary schools, saying that this leaves parents with no option of taking their children to alternative schools. She said officials from the college told her that they have engaged area Members of Parliament Tshelang Masisi and Wnyter Mmolotsi to assist parents in looking for accommodation for their children. Masisi could not be reached as his cellphone was off.Mmolotsi was surprised when reached for comment on Tuesday.  He said it was absurd that he could assist in the search for students' accommodation, as he does not work for ABM College. He added that the school has not contacted him, but he is aware of the situation as some students have reported to his office.

Editor's Comment
Closure as pain lingers

March 28 will go down as a day that Batswana will never forget because of the accident that occurred near Mmamatlakala in Limpopo, South Africa. The tragedy affected not only the grieving families but the nation at large. Batswana throughout the process stood behind the grieving families and the governments of Botswana and South Africa need much more than a pat on the back.Last Saturday was a day when family members said their last goodbyes to...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up