LECTURERS at the National University of Science and
Technology (Nust) in Bulawayo have stopped teaching parallel classes in fear
that they will not be paid.
The lecturers have on numerous occasions clashed with the
university management over payment for teaching of parallel classes. In an
interview, Nust Educators Association (Nusteda) secretary-general Mr Blessing
Jona said lecturers were sceptical about working basing on promises from the
management as previously such promises have not been fulfilled.
“Lecturers said even if the money (for last semester) has
been paid they do not trust that the management will keep its end of the
bargain. We want to clear issues with the management so that we start the
semester on a clean slate. Now that lecturers have received their money, we
must have an urgent meeting with the teaching staff where we will discuss the
agreement proposed by the Nust management and the lecturers’ union. In the
meantime, a majority of these parallel students are not having lectures and it
is a sad scenario which is something that could have been avoided,” said Mr
Jona.
Affected students from outside Bulawayo have said they felt
short-changed since they have already paid for accommodation in town.
“It is disappointing that we have spent three weeks in
Bulawayo without attending any lectures after paying rentals in foreign
currency at houses we are staying in. This has been really hard because we
cannot be paying accommodation and accumulate expenses while we are not
learning,” said Miss Yvonne Zvivenga, a student.
However, Nust director of marketing and communication Mr
Felix Moyo, said the university and the lecturers have come to an agreement and
lectures were set to resume. Sunday News
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