STUDENTS MISS ROOMS AS UNIVERSITY INSISTS ON FULL FEE By Purity Museo It is now more than two weeks since the 3rd and 4th years resumed their studies in Moi University Main Campus but the streets of the campus are still as empty as they were left when the former 4th years and incoming 2nd years cleared for home. Nothing seems to be happening. Students are still signing in to their rooms. The process seems to be taking quite long. Things seem different. Previously, when students resumed their studies, long queues could be experienced in all places. This academic year is different. On Monday the 23rd of June 2014 was a quiet morning. Students seemed relaxed. There was no hurry as usual. At some point I thought that it was because the students involved were seniors but I got it all wrong. This academic year has begun when almost all the students have not yet received their HELB loans. This has left most students stranded and without access to their rooms, even after booking them online. Reason? Clearing fees to get a room is a harsh requirement that makes them to result into pirating. Speaking to a group of students from the school of Arts and Social Sciences, most students claimed that they thought the University could allow them reside in their rooms after paying the accommodation fees since it is well established that most students have not yet received their HELB loan. The University also refused to consider those students who paid their fees less the Ksh. 4000 that goes direct to their accounts from the HELB. Some of the affected students argued that circumstances forced them to fill non residential forms since they cannot afford to clear their school fees until their HELB loan is disbursed. The Moi University Staff is a digital unit! Just like computers they lack feelings and understanding. They do not have a heart for the needy. The only time they understand is when someone has keyed in some money and received a receipt from bank computers. The SGC has come up with a new translation of the constitution which is a hide and seek game. You approach one of them and he tells you that he is the wrong person to go to. He refers you to the other and another until the cycle repeats. James, a third year student from The School of Human Resource is a victim of this game. He lost his father while on holiday. The fact that his father was the bread winner in the family made it hard for James to pay his fees. He is now pirating with a friend after taking his case to one of the SGC members .The director keeps on telling him “see me tomorrow”. At the moment, James is considering deferring to go work and earn fees. Majority of the students are in the same situation. The people who represent them seem to have declared man for himself and God for us all. When you ask the directors, they will tell you that it is not easy to establish all the students that are in need. But my question stills remains rigid; what platform have they created for students to express their needs? How will the SGC help students without a formal way of relaying grievances? The writer is a student of journalism and a former Chief Reporter of The 3rd Eye
Posted on: Sat, 05 Jul 2014 22:27:54 +0000
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