A meeting was recently held between the Student Representative Council (SRC) and management of Mnambithi TVET to resolve the burning issues affecting the disgruntled students who went on a rampage in protest of the alleged violation of their human right to education after students claim to have not received learning material or financial aid.
Students barricaded the main campus entrance and burned tyres while singing songs of their struggle. “We have a right to education,” said one student.
Speaking to The Ladysmith Herald, Nkululeko Tshabalala, a student representative, said: “A few students were paid, then others were notified of the payment but still had a zero balance.” He added that the students are now fed up because study material is allegedly not provided on time and they feel that lecturers do not care about lectures or the students.
“We have sent emails, followed all protocols and forwarded all concerns to management but it seems that nothing is being done. One of the classes does not even have a lecturer and that stops us from learning,” said Tshabalala.
Amid the billowing black smoke from burning tyres, broken branches and broken glass bottles could be seen scattered at the campus entrance by protesting students who made sure that no vehicles could pass along Walton Street until their demands were met.
“We will not stop until we have found working solutions and we will make sure that classes do not continue until this happens,” said another student.
Students who did not participated in the protest said that they are a little disappointed because they need to attend their classes in order to continue their courses. Others felt that problems like these are just delaying their futures. “How are we supposed to make things better for ourselves and improve our lifestyle when we are not being met halfway?”
At the time of going to print, management and student representatives were still in meetings and unable to provide further updates on the matter.
