News / National
Zinasu concerned with government's absolute lack of will to solve students problems
15 Jan 2016 at 07:02hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe National Students Union President, Alistair Pfunye has said the union is gravely concerned with the government of Zimbabwe's absolute lack of will in resolving the now deplorable conditions besieging Zimbabwean students.
He said this perpetual dereliction of academic and and educational and responsibilities is in sharp juxtaposition the ZIMASSET and Zimbabwean constitution which sanction the universal provision of and access to education.
"Zinasu is demanding that the Zimbabwean government also honour regional and international treaties that it is signatory to. The sustainable development goals, SADC protocol on education and development, and African Youth Charter all provide for the availability of education to all with any unnecessary prejudice," he said.
"Operationally the government is in defiance of all its pledges and absolutely lacks absolute will as exhibited by the 2016 national budget which reduced to nothing student teachers' allowances and is also responsible for the 'disappear factor' of student nurses allowances. This, coupled with non-providence of allowances to students on attachment is a major assault on students' welfare and livelihoods."
He said Zinasu firmly believes that short-changing students of their livelihoods allowances is not a solution but directly constitutes the perpetuation of the problem.
"Students believe that eradication of corruption, setting up of better governance systems which allow transparency and public accountability are the first critical steps in eliminating this problem," he said. Zinasu is strongly convinced that rampant corruption in institutions of higher and tertiary education, of the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (ZIMDEF), absolute unconstitutionalism and abuse of administrative systems are the problem."
Pfunye said these under any climate can never be mitigated by an onslaught on students' allowances and livelihoods.
"Zinasu has since started engaging the government through the ministry for immediate pragmatic resolution of such. Failure by government to provide immediate recourse will directly result result in Zinasu employing any means necessary to force the government to address this extreme compromise on students' welfare, livelihoods and dignity," he said.
He said this perpetual dereliction of academic and and educational and responsibilities is in sharp juxtaposition the ZIMASSET and Zimbabwean constitution which sanction the universal provision of and access to education.
"Zinasu is demanding that the Zimbabwean government also honour regional and international treaties that it is signatory to. The sustainable development goals, SADC protocol on education and development, and African Youth Charter all provide for the availability of education to all with any unnecessary prejudice," he said.
"Operationally the government is in defiance of all its pledges and absolutely lacks absolute will as exhibited by the 2016 national budget which reduced to nothing student teachers' allowances and is also responsible for the 'disappear factor' of student nurses allowances. This, coupled with non-providence of allowances to students on attachment is a major assault on students' welfare and livelihoods."
"Students believe that eradication of corruption, setting up of better governance systems which allow transparency and public accountability are the first critical steps in eliminating this problem," he said. Zinasu is strongly convinced that rampant corruption in institutions of higher and tertiary education, of the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (ZIMDEF), absolute unconstitutionalism and abuse of administrative systems are the problem."
Pfunye said these under any climate can never be mitigated by an onslaught on students' allowances and livelihoods.
"Zinasu has since started engaging the government through the ministry for immediate pragmatic resolution of such. Failure by government to provide immediate recourse will directly result result in Zinasu employing any means necessary to force the government to address this extreme compromise on students' welfare, livelihoods and dignity," he said.
Source - Byo24News
