Maritime students lose privileges

MARITIME college students are fuming after being told that some of the privileges, including having a student body to represent them, will be taken away.The students were told this during the orientation yesterday.According to a source, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of being victimised, the students would not be allowed to organise or hold any gatherings. Classes were supposed to have started on Monday.
The source said an orientation brief was held between the administration and the student body in which certain rules were laid down which should be strictly adhered to.These were the rules laid down by college principal Capt Richard Teo.l    There would be no student body such as a student representative council;
l There would be no student gatherings at all; l    Students who had signed the petition presented to Prime Minister Peter O’Neill would be withdrawn from classes. The head of the engineering department threatens to take further action on those who do not comply; andl Mate 4 students would no longer enjoy the privilege of night time study in the classrooms.The source said a notice to lecturers and students signed by Teo contained the above. The National has seen a copy of the notice.The students, through their representative council, had petitioned the school over various misconduct and maladministration issues last year.They called for the administration manager’s resignation.They also accused the administration of favouritism by employing certain females and paying for one’s tuition fees at the Madang Teachers College.The students and  several staff were at loggerheads with the administration over these and other issues.When attempts to resolve the issues failed, the students welded the entrance to the offices locking out the school management and administration.