Chaos at Unitech

STUDENT leaders at the University of Technology in Lae yesterday urged the National Academic Staff Association (NASA) and the University Council to consider the students’ wellbeing when both parities discuss solutions to the dispute.
Student Representative Council (SRC) vice-presidents Samson Atai and Cathy Magalu said they were not taking sides but were concerned that their education could be jeopardised.
The student leaders said they were hopeful that an agreement would be reached by the end of this week.
Meanwhile, NASA said yesterday afternoon it was still waiting for a response from the university administration.
NASA president Pulas Yowat said the strike action by its members would continue until responsible authorities investigate the administration over allegations of mismanagement and corrupt practices.
Mr Yowat said NASA presented evidence to the university council, showing alleged misuse of university funds and gross abuse of procedures.
Students complained that they were faced with multiple problems and that most were recurrent issues, which an intellectual institution should have resolved already.
“Why should we come here and face this problem every year?” asked several students, referring to the lack of rooms.
The strike by the academic staff is another issue they were concerned with because it was carried on from last year, when they were doing their exams.
Some women students fronted up at the SRC office and demanded answers from admin officer Molly-Perry Geno and acting SRC president Cathy Magalu.
They were were disappointed at not being able to get any comfort.
They complained that the strike was an issue that should have been sorted out last year.
“We are being deprived of our rights to education,” one of the students said.
“Many of us have paid fees to study and the staff shouldn’t use us as bargaining tools for their demands.
“This is totally unfair.”
Ms Magalu said up to 50 women students had no rooms but the problem could be worse when figures from their male counterparts were compiled this afternoon.

 

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