User:Evelina N Nakanyala

VTC students boycotted classes
On the 2nd of October 2012 about 400 students at the Windhoek Vocational Training Centre (WVTC) boycotted classes demanding that their financial and academic grievances be addressed by management, who they accused of corruption. The VTC trainees demonstrated and blocked the entrance to the vocational centre having the list of the demands were not to continue with classes until all their demands all met. Paulus Haukongo the VTC principal, observed students toy-toying back and forth when he was speaking on the mobile phone in his white Land Rover outside Campus.

Enough Is Enough
The VTC student's spokesperson Rabbi Kalomo, raised his voice saying they as students were not happy as to how their study loans from the government were used

Student apparently receives study loans from the Ministry of education's Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund NSFAF which pay for the cost such as:


 * registration,
 * books,
 * transport tuition fees,
 * attachments toolboxes,
 * protective clothing
 * and accommodations.

Kalomo also added that they are using their pocket to pay for the hostel fees, while having their loans. Apart from hostel fees they claim that they don't get transport allowance as it was stipulated in the loan deal.According to kalomo the amount of the loan given to every student about N$21 000, but the management "lied" to them that only receive 8000 from the state. They also demanded on why the institution using money from their loans to pay the vocational Centre's staff members.

The students also argued on the following:

 * Paying themselves for the hostel which the government had paid for.


 * Sharing small stoves


 * Three people sharing one bed room and

The principal admitted that they have a hostel problem and said plans were a foot to extend it. Haukongo also added that the students misunderstood their loan structure.
 * Due to the lack of accommodations, there is a lot of squatting at the hostels.

Last year the minister of education Abraham Iyambo was reportedly "shocked" by what he found when visited the same centre and demanded improvements.

Student told Namibian Sun that despite some learner getting government loans they are still is-sued with letters that they owe the school money and therefore that they demand transparency. The government loans get directly paid to the management centre, but the students allegedly do not see the confirmation letter from the ministry of Education The students said they have informed the school management about a week ago, which they also failed to do.

Deputy Minister of Education Dr David Namwandi has told striking Windhoek Vocational Training Centre (WVTC) students to resume classes, saying that he will meet with the management of the institution to address their grievances.

On 3rd of October the VTC main gate was locked and students marched to the ministry of education to air the grievances but Namibia Trading Authority (NTA) intervened and invite them to their offices for talks; the Vocational Training resort under (NTA)