LEARNING was interrupted at uMfolozi College when chaos erupted within the Richtek Campus in Richards Bay yesterday.
Frustrated students complained about the shortages of study matter, including textbooks, workshop and other materials for their practicals.
The strike was apparently started by students in the Engineering department and extended to other faculties.
They chanted and sang struggle song – demanding answers from management.
‘When we get to workshops there are no proper tools to work with. We just sit and do nothing,’ they said.
Students also complained about the Work Based Experience (WBE) programme which place them into different industries and assist them to gain practical experience.
‘Nothing has been organised about our WBE, we don’t know what will happen to us.
‘We were supposed to placed to companies now for our semi-internships. We also don’t have information on when we will do our practicals and the International Student Admission Test (ISAT).’
In attempts to calm the students, Richtek Campus Manager Preashen Govender addressed the masses on their concerns.
‘There are two appointed officers who are dealing with the WBE placement. In connection with the the ISAT, we are waiting for the Department of Higher Education regarding that matter,’ he said.
Richtech Student Representative Council president, System Ndlovu, said a formal memorandum was sent to management with the list of their concerns.
‘The memo included other concerns from other departments, and management promised to resolve them.
Ndlovu said students were prepared to go back to classes on Thursday (today).
PHOTO: Wellington Makwakwa
