Tendai Charumbira
Disgruntled students at Masvingo Teachers’ College have called upon responsible authorities to intervene and save the situation at the tertiary institution alleging some of the lecturers are milking them through unfair practices.
The students allege lecturers in the Professional Studies Syllabus (PSA) and Art Professional Syllabus B, are holding them ‘hostage’ by demanding payments in form of foreign currency (US$ 10) if they are to pass given assignments in the two departments.
Speaking to TellZim News, one of the students said their lecturers are not directly demanding the money but they will give assignments and if they fail to meet their demands they then make them fail deliberately so that they pay them money for better marks.
“Our lectures are giving us lower marks even if you meet the demands of the assignments. Because we want to pass, we are forced to pay for better marks,” said the anonymous student.
Another student who refused to be named as well said they are appealing for action from the responsible authorities as they are left with no option than to pay lecturers.
“We are calling for the responsible authorities to take action against this type of corruption as we have no option than to pay lecturers in order to pass.
Contacted for comment, one of the lectures in question said he cannot comment as he is not allowed to speak to the media.
Another lecturer at the college who refused to be named said they are not aware that such things are happening as it is illegal to do so unless it is the external assessors’ materials for practical assignments.
“I don’t know that is happening at our institution because we are not allowed to do that unless it is a practical assignment or external assessor’s materials,” said the lecturer.
The college’s principal Benson Mutambudzi said he cannot comment as the matter is under investigation.
“The matter is under investigation, so I cannot comment on it at the moment,” said Mutambudzi.
Due to the harsh economic conditions prevailing in the country, some of those lecturers have resorted to off-loading the burden of economic woes on the struggling students.
In some cases in the Art department, students are given assignments which need to be done using the Heat press machine and they are left with no option other than giving in to such pressures and thus pay for the assistance of the lecturers.
