The SRCs held a press briefing yesterday at the University of Botswana SRC offices to state a joint position. The LUCT matter, which started off as a complaint that the books available at the campus bookstore were irrelevant and that the book allowance is non-redeemable has taken a new twist with representatives of higher learning students seeking to end the monopoly in book supplies. They say the monopoly causes problems such as high pricing. This comes at a time when some students of LUCT have boycotted classes to register displeasure at the suspension of colleagues in the wake of the book allowances and bookshop complaints. SRC representatives from LUCT, University of Botswana, Botho College, Boitekanelo College, MANCOSA, GIPS and Tlokweng College of Education stated that unfolding events at LUCT worries them. The consensus was that solidarity was needed to address what students said is a common problem in institutions of higher learning.
The UB SRC president Kago Mokotedi said there is a danger in having one supplier in all the institutions. He said: "UB SRC calls for the immediate re-instatement of suspended LUCT students because an injury to one is an injury to all". Mokotedi added that they have brought the 'monopoly' issue to the attention of the Competition Authority (CA).Meanwhile, the Tertiary Education Council (TEC) has said it has not received any formal complaints from LUCT students over lack of relevant textbooks and other material at the campus bookstore.
