NUL STUDENTS PETITION NMDS

Students of the National University of Lesotho (NUL) have submitted their petition to the National Manpower Development Secretariat (NMDS) at Central Park in Maseru on Thursday. The petition, which was read by a member of the Students Representative Council, stipulates that the students are appealing for quick response to the NMDS regarding their allowances.

It further shows that the University is the foundation of the country's development in most areas that include economy and politics, and therefore the students need to be supported financially so that the country can benefit from the education offered by the University. It says, the economic and political development of the country lies on the sponsorship by NMDS, while in contrary, the NUL students are suffering and thereby unable to perform as expected.

According to the observation of the students, the delay to release allowances can be attributed  solely on incompetence of the NMDS management. "How can NUL attain high levels of excellence, while its students are roaming in a place where knowledge cannot be found", they  added, referring to the situation whereby students are alleging that  NMDS has not yet released their book allowances, yet a semester is nearing its end.

The petition further revealed that the students considered it a sacrifice for some students to spend more than 60 days without having food allowances, which the petition says even exceeds the sacrifice that the biblical "Jesus" once experienced when he  spent 40 days without food. One of the concerns is that the allowances be increased so that they can reconcile with the inflation.

Regarding the issue of the bridgers, whom NMDS has decided not to sponsor, the students appealed to NMDS to reconsider the matter, saying they believed that the policy should not be meant to harm people, rather should be meant for the good of the nation. They further expressed their concern over the announcement that people are encouraged to apply for sponsorship to South African institutions of higher learning, while NMDS is failing to fulfill the requirements of students attending at the only Institute of higher learning in the country, NUL.

The petition was received by the Deputy Director of the National Manpower Development Secretariat, Mr. Karabo Mabote who promised the students that he would take their grievances  to the authorities. Copies of the petition, according to Mr. Africa Makakane of the Students Representative Council, have been sent to the Prime Minister, Mr. Pakalitha Mosisili, the Minister of Education, Mr. Lesao Lehohla and the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Dr. Timothy Thahane.

10 October 2003