User:Evelina N Nakanyala

VTC students boycotted classes

On the 2nd of October 2012 about 400 students at the Windhoek Vocational Training Centre (WVTC) boycotted classes demanding that their financial and academic grievances be addressed by management, who they accused of corruption. The VTC trainees demonstrated and blocked the entrance to the vocational centre having the list of the demands were not to continue with classes until all their demands all met. Paulus Haukongo the VTC principal, observed students toy-toying back and forth when he was speaking on the mobile phone in his white Land Rover outside Campus.^[1]

Enough Is Enough

The VTC student's spokesperson Rabbi Kalomo, raised his voice saying they as students were not happy as to how their study loans from the government were used

Student apparently receives study loans from the

Ministry of education

's Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund NSFAF which pay for the cost such as:

registration,
books,
transport tuition fees,
attachments toolboxes,
protective clothing
and accommodations.

Kalomo also added that they are using their pocket to pay for the hostel fees, while having their loans. Apart from hostel fees they claim that they don't get transport allowance as it was stipulated in the loan deal.According to kalomo the amount of the loan given to every student about N$21 000, but the management "lied" to them that only receive 8000 from the state. They also demanded on why the institution using money from their loans to pay the vocational Centre's staff members.

The students also argued on the following:

Paying themselves for the hostel which the government had paid for.

Sharing small stoves

Three people sharing one bed room and

Due to the lack of accommodations, there is a lot of squatting at the
hostels
.

The principal admitted that they have a hostel problem and said plans were a foot to extend it. Haukongo also added that the students misunderstood their loan structure.^[2]

Last year the minister of education Abraham Iyambo was reportedly "shocked" by what he found when visited the same centre and demanded improvements.

Student told

ministry of Education

The students said they have informed the school management about a week ago, which they also failed to do.^[3]

Deputy

Minister of Education Dr David Namwandi has told striking Windhoek Vocational Training Centre (WVTC) students to resume classes, saying that he will meet with the management of the institution to address their grievances. ^[4]

On 3rd of October the VTC main gate was locked and students marched to the ministry of education to air the grievances but Namibia Trading Authority (NTA) intervened and invite them to their offices for talks; the Vocational Training resort under (NTA)

References

^ Shinovene, Immanuel. "VTC student boycotted classes". The Namibian. Retrieved 03 October 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
^ YVONNE, AMUKWAYA. "Enough Is Enough - VTC students". Namibian Economist. Retrieved 05 October 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
^ Selma, Ikela. "Student uprising at traing centre". Namibian sun. Retrieved 03 October 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
^ Selma, Ikela. "Striking VTC students told to resume classes". Namibian sun. Retrieved 03 October 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

[1] Shinovene, Immanuel. "VTC student boycotted classes". The Namibian. Retrieved 03 October 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

[2] YVONNE, AMUKWAYA. "Enough Is Enough - VTC students". Namibian Economist. Retrieved 05 October 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

[3] Selma, Ikela. "Student uprising at traing centre". Namibian sun. Retrieved 03 October 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

[4] Selma, Ikela. "Striking VTC students told to resume classes". Namibian sun. Retrieved 03 October 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

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