Harare Polytechnic College has asked all prospective
students to seek police clearance in order to have their applications
considered.
In a circular for the 2018 enrolment requirements, the
college advised that all courses required the police documentation.
“Applications are invited from suitably qualified people to
undertake the following courses beginning in January 2018. Please note: all
applicants should have 5 Ordinary Levels including Mathematics, English for all
courses and Science for other courses. Police clearance is a requirement for
all applicants,” read part of the notice.
Principal Tafadzwa Mudondo said that requesting police
clearance from prospective students would not affect whether they are
considered into the college or not.
He said the idea to ask for police clearance was purely
administrative and was not motivated by the need to discriminate anyone based
on a past criminal record.
“There is no malice in asking students to have police
clearance; in fact since we started it, more than 5 000 applications have been
received. Even members of Parliament and councillors are adhering to the
requirements and have brought applications for their relatives with police
clearance.
“We are simply doing it for the safety of the students and
the college. There has been an upsurge in crime at the college and we only want
to know who we are enrolling,” Mudondo said.
He added that the requirement is in part supported by
Statutory Instrument 81 of 1999 which states that students may apply in any
form that the principal requests.
Human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa quizzed on what basis
the college had based their requirements as it was unconstitutional.
She said even in prison, prisoners are allowed to get an
education.
“It is clearly and blatantly unconstitutional to request
students to produce police clearance. The Constitution states that anyone has a
right to education whether they are in prison or not. Regardless of political
affiliation education is a right for all,” she said.
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