Shareworld students demand resignation of finance manager
Students at Shareworld Open University are demanding the immediate resignation of the financial manager Richard Chiphiko Moyo for denying students to write final examinations because of little fees balances.
The students have also threatened to get an injunction to stop the administration of the final examinations this July should management smile at Chiphiko’s unfriendly rules.
Already the college charges an extra fee of 15 percent of any balance a student may have from a specified period.
However, Chiphiko has added another draconian law that after paying the 15 percent a student should also pay K3 000 per subject from a specified period and who fails to do that should not write examinations even if the balance is K10 000.
“That is unfair to us. Already we are paying too high fees. Imagine the fourth years are paying K540 000 while the third years K400 000. Now somebody pays K500 000 and remains with a balance of K40 000 and pledges to pay the balance at some point and is denied writing examinations. Is that fair? I thought civilized colleges would allow a student to write exams and withhold his results if he is failing to finish the balance?.
“ In the past, students were allowed to write exams although with balances but this man has come and is bringing his own rules which even some lecturers are against,” one of the students said.
The student who was among others that talked to Nyasa Times added that they have prepared a petition to submit to the management to revisit the fees approach brought by Chiphiko. Nyasa Times was shown the draft petition and has details of the lawyer the students want to engage.
“We are finalizing the petition. You can see this draft. We may be forced to take law into our hands should this nonsense continue,” another student said.
Some of the lecturers too expressed displeasure at Chiphiko’s directives over fees.
“We are closer to the students than he is. We have established relationships and we do understand their problems. Now, to penalize them not to write exams because of a little balance is unfair. We have tried to reason with management but they seem adamant. But that will bring trouble to the college,” said one lecturer.
The management of the college has started collapsing because it is being run as personal estate despite having Professor Felix Salaniponi. Vice principal David Kamchacha has resigned out of annoyance.
Some lecturers were appointed into some positions but were never given letters to that effect. And they are receiving same old salaries.
There are positions like principal, vice principal, registrar and deputy registrars, all were appointed but no letters given.
The newly employed librarian for Blantyre campus has also dumped the college on grounds of poor administration. The Blantyre campus, for example, has had its computer lab closed and the reception office closed.
“Students just walk in as if they are entering a khola. There is no proper order,” one student said.
“We urge government officials to inspect the college again otherwise standards have gone down,” added the student.
The college management refused to comment on the issues when raised to them. Chiphiko also refused to speak on record.
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