By Zwelihle Sukati | 2019-09-21
If you have a relative studying at the National University of Lesotho, he or she could be sent packing back home as the institution is in crises.
Locally, those with relatives there have pressed the panic button following similar unrest in the country’s tertiary institutions also because of delayed allowances. It is unknown how many local students are at NUL, but government says there is none, most likely referring to those sponsored by it.
Students and the university administration were at loggerheads over the delayed disbursement of their allowances and this led to the ultimate destruction of property on campus.
The unrest started last month. This Thursday, September 19, members of the National University of Lesotho (NUL) Students Body implemented their decision to boycott lectures and all tuition-related activities due to the delayed payment of their allowances.
demands
Learners embarked on the boycott despite the fact that on Wednesday, NUL administration held a meeting with the Students Representative Council (SRC) and considered the students’ demands listed in their letter of notice for the boycott, which the SRC had presented to the Acting Vice-Chancellor on the same morning.
According to the university management, the institution could close before the end of the year unless the government of that country avails more funds to enable it to complete this semester.
Information gathered by this publication is that the university was desperately short of funds after the government only availed M78 million against a projected M186 budget to fund the institution for the financial year.
A further M225 million is expected to be generated from fees payments by students and other fund-raising initiatives by the university. According to Dr Tefeso Mothibe, one of the seven senior lecturers addressing journalist at a press conference in Maseru, as a result of government’s failure to fulfil its funding obligations, it would be a ‘miracle’ if the university would still be open in December 2019.
“NUL faces a shortfall of M108 million (equivallent to Emalangeni). As a result, two closely linked outcomes can be expected – the first being that the university will not be able to finance its operations for the whole year and secondly, the university will then be forced to close down,” Dr Mothibe said.
He also highlighted that the political instability has contributed to the deterioration of the university and government’s relationship, saying that there was a perception among the ruling elite that the university serves as a centre of political opposition to them.
The institution’s office of the registrar, on Thursday, issued a circular on the current students unrest to that learners were advised that if they insist on boycotting teaching and learning activities, management would have no option but to allow them to leave the university campus as their presence on campus posed a security risk.
Instead of leaving the campus as directed, students went on a rampage and began to destroy university property. Police came to disperse the rioters and drove them out of the campus.
unrest
Ministry of Labour and Social Security Communications Officer Nompilo Mncina said according to their records, there was no government sponsored student studying at the National University of Lesotho. She said there was one student last year, who now is no longer at the institution.
“Though the National University of Lesotho is one of government’s prioritised institutions no students have enrolled at the institution currently,” Mncina said.
On August 26, the National University of Lesotho issued a public notice on the students unrest, whereby it was stated that on August 20 some members of the NUL student body embarked on boycotting lectures and this led to the ultimate destruction of property on and off-campus. During this disorder, one student was hit and injured by a stray stone when students who stay off-campus forced their way into the residences to coerce on-campus students mainly first years to join the strike. Police came to disperse the rioters at the main gate using teargas.
The statement further asserted that all that happened despite the fact that earlier that morning, NUL management held a meeting with the students representative council (SRC) and considered 14 grievances listed in the letter of notice for the boycott, which the SRC had only sent to the acting vice-chancellor the previous day at midday.
On August 30 staff and students were notified that at its 344th meeting held on August 29 whereby senate executive considered the current situation of unrest and noted that students had been on an illegal strike from August 28 without giving notice. Students refused to end their boycott and return to class and senate executive decided to; suspend lectures with immediate effect until further notice; all students admitted to the Roma campus, with the exception of international students and students with disabilities, were directed to leave the university premises forthwith.
The cut-off point to be out of the campus was 3pm; staff, Nul community and the public were advised to take precautionary measures on their safety and security; staff should continue with their normal work activities; as a matter of urgency, the registrar would communicate this decision to sponsors; notice on the resumption of lectures will be communicated.
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