NUL STUDENTS BOYCOTT LECTURES

 Lectures could not continue as usual at the National University of Lesotho (NUL) following the students boycott on Thursday .In the petition, which was presented to the Vice-Chancellor of NUL, Dr.Tefetso Mothibe and the Pro-Vice Chancellor, Dr. Nqosa Mahao, the  Student Union, has accused among others,  the university management for  delaying the registration process, which is one of the reasons that makes the department  the National Manpower Development Secretariat (NMDS) fail to process their stipends in time.

The Students Representatives Council (SRC) Spokesperson, Mr. Afrika Makakane said the department of NMDS has indicated that it cannot give food allowances to the students sponsored by it because some are not yet registered. "Those students who are sponsored by NMDS have not received any stipend since the beginning of this academic year, how can we learn when we are hungry." He said.

Students also have also complained about the problem of congestion that is taking place in the lecture rooms." The students spend the whole day scrambling and straggling to have access
to chairs and those fortunate move around with them from one class to another." The petition indicated. The student union also wants the university management to review the security issue on Roma campus; "we are not safe here because this university has become no man's land where every wanderer can easily have entry into our campus." Makakane emphasised.

The university management has indicated that it will meet to discuss the petition from the students and would give its response to the SRC by Friday this week. The Pro-Vice Chancellor, Dr. Nqosa Mahao indicated that it is the sole responsibility of  NMDS to process the students' stipends, adding that the registration of the students has nothing to do with the students' stipends from NMDS.

13 September 2003