Kabwe Trades students protests over poor services

Kabwe Trades students protests over poor services

Kabwe, June 12, ZANIS ——- Students at Kabwe Trades Training Institute in Central province, this morning staged a class boycott demanding among other things, the resignation of the Vice Principal, Andrew Saila.

The students who carried placards denouncing the college Vice Principal, Management and Student’s union vowed not to return to classes until their demands are met.

Speaking to ZANIS in Kabwe today, some students who declined to be named for fear of victimisation said they were calling for the resignation of the Vice Principal, change of management and dissolution of the Student’s Union because of what they termed as poor management.

They said the Vice Principal and the entire management was in a somewhat ‘business venture’ as they were ever formulating new college requirements without realising any positive achievements.

They said every term, they paid a computer fee of KR75.00, KR70.00 Sports Fee and School Tour fees while the institute has no computers, sports equipment and no trips are ever undertaken.

They further complained that they sacrificed from their ration money and pay for mattresses, desks and beds which are never procured.

The students added that they are tired of sleeping on the floor and drinking dirty water when they are paying a lot of money at the institute.

“The quality of education we are getting here is equally below par. The staffing levels are pathetic, we only have one lecturer for Communication Skills and we have not had Mathematics lessons for five months because we have no lecturer in that subject. It is like we are just here on holiday, despite paying huge sums of money,” the students complained.

They also complained that their institute which is described as a business centre lacks proper accommodation, library as well as standard training materials, thereby making it difficult for them to perform appropriately during examinations.

‘We cannot even push our cases through the students union because our friends whom we chose to represent us have decided to dine and wine with the Vice Principal and College Management whose main objective is to fatten their bellies,” they lamented.

The students also demanded that management refunds the money they have been paying for educational tours since 2011 because none of the promised and most needed tours have been undertaken since then.

The students have appealed to government to dissolve management and recruit new people who will have the interests of the students at heart as the current management has failed them.

And Kabwe District Commissioner, Patrick Chishala has expressed sadness at the manner in which the institute is operating.

Addressing the students shortly after their protest, Mr Chishala who is partly aware of some of the challenges faced by the students has assured the students that government will intervene and ensure that all their concerns are addressed.

Mr Chishala has since summoned management to appear before him within 24 hours and exculpate itself, warning that if the issues raised by the students are true, appropriate action will be undertaken immediately.

He said this is not the first time the students at the institution are complaining over the same issues because he has been to the institute to calm the situations on several occasions.

The District Commissioner dissolved the Students Union, saying practically, the union has failed their fellow students and that a new union that will adequately represent the students should be formulated with immediate effect.