Exam papers trashed in FET lecturer strike
Students were seen standing around outside the grounds, not knowing what to do
Mnambithi FET College lecturers who belong to SADTU (South African Democratic Teachers Union) are currently on strike.
Students claim that, this morning (Tuesday), one of the lecturers came into a classroom, tore up exam sheets and walked out again. It is also alleged that dustbins have been thrown around, and exam papers tossed into rubbish bins.
Lecturers at the college in Walton Road say that their demands have not been met, hence the strike that has been going on for the last three weeks.
Students were seen standing around outside the grounds, not knowing what to do.
One student, in tears, told a Ladysmith Gazette journalist that they are busy with their internal exams, but now they cannot continue writing their papers because lecturers have locked the classrooms. The SRC’s main concern at the moment is what will happen if the strike carries on and gets worse, and are appealing to the Department of Higher Education to intervene in the matter. If students miss out on writing their exams at this time, there is no way they can catch up or re-write, as the papers are received from the Department of Education.
The college is closing on Friday and exams still need to be written.
Police are on scene to make sure the situation doesn’t get further out of hand.
“We just pray that the lecturers’ demands are heard and that everything will go back to normal soon,” said a concerned student.
