Lovedale students in allowance protest
ACADEMIC activities at Lovedale Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College in Alice have been disrupted following a student protest that erupted in March.
The protest, which enters its third month, could see the students being unable to qualify for departmental exams which start next week.
Among their grievances are the amounts of money flowing from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme for accommodation and food allowances.
Students are demanding a minimum of R1 500 for accommodation and food, while management’s offer is R1 200. Other issues include: ● A demand for better facilities for practicals;
● Maintenance of computer labs; and
● Longer library hours, to 10pm.
At a meeting of more than 200 students yesterday, they agreed to accept the R1 200 offer on condition that management lifted the suspension of boycotting students.
Lovedale vice-principal Kenneth Fassi and student support services manager Zamikhaya Booi said the boycotting students, including student leaders from various organisations, had been issued with a court interdict which orders them to:
● Refrain from unlawfully occupying the campus;
● Stop harassing, threatening or intimidating any person on the campus;
● Not go within 100m of the campus; and
● Stop blockading the campus.
Last week, the protest turned violent when the students burned tyres in front of the campus and later clashed with police. A total of 11 students have been arrested since the protest started.
Students at other Lovedale College campuses at Zwelitsha and King William’s Town have accepted the R1 200 allowance offered by college.
The Daily Dispatch yesterday visited the campus, which was being watched by private security guards.
Fassi said the college was executing the NSFAS scheme according to the rules and guidelines stipulated by the Department of Higher Education and Training.
“An allowance must not be perceived as an entitlement, but rather as a means of support which may be awarded to a student on the basis of academic performance, subject to availability of funds,” he said.
Fassi said what was happening at the college was of great concern. —