Enough is enough- VTC students
Left to right: Severnus Wandhowili, Matheus Andreas and Janias Andjene, students from the Windhoek Vocational Training School on strike against the the delay of loan pay-outs, corrupt practices by the VTC management and unhygienic hostel conditions. (Photograph Yvonne Amukwaya)
The group made of hundreds of students from different courses marched to the Namibia Training Authority under the watchful eyes of the Namibian Police.
Students say that although their school fees are covered by the government loans, the school claims that the money is insufficient and they are holding back loan refunds which belong to them. “The money from the government loans is enough for our registration, tools, hostel and even transport but the school is claiming that the money is not enough. But I have a letter from the government which is proof that the money is indeed enough to cover for our educational fees,” said a furious Rabbi Kalomo on behalf of the students.
According to him, the loans are supposed to cover everything as they are subsidies from the government yet they are still forced to believe that what government is providing is not enough.
He said that the school is making them angry with their corrupt practices. “Other VTC’s from other parts of the country do not complain of practices and even our hostels are not up to standard as more people share a room than intended.”
Another representative from the group, Dengees Mwalengwa told the Economist that they were not supposed to take such drastic measures, but because VTC management failed to come up with a solution, they have handed in their petition to the Ministry of Education.
On Wednesday, 3 October, Representatives from the group set down with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry said that they will get back to the students within the next three weeks.
Another issue that the students raised is the holding back of certificates whereby their academic reports are held back by VTC which hinders them from looking for jobs.
