THE fate of final year medical students at the University
of Zimbabwe (UZ) who failed to write their examinations last year at the height
of the doctors’ strike is still in limbo.
The students, who were only left with about three months to
complete their programme, were ordered to go back home at the recommendation of
a special university taskforce.
The taskforce came to the conclusion that the environment
was not suitable for students to write the examinations given the nationwide
job action within government hospitals.
The recommendation was that the students would be recalled
at the earliest opportunity to finalise their studies and write their final
examinations.
However, to date the students do not know their fate and have
not been recalled. This is despite the fact that various departments within the
college have resumed lessons.
The Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA) is now
calling on the dean of the College of Health Sciences, Rangarirai Masanganise,
to clarify the students’ position.
“We are concerned about the recent developments in the UZ
College of Health Sciences (UZ-CHS). We refer to the lack of communication
given (sic) to the fifth year MBChB, class of 2019, who have been left high and
dry, without any provision made for the completion of their programme,” the
doctors said in a statement.
They also claimed that there will be severe shortage of
interns in the future.
“This perpetual uncertainty has caused unnecessary anxiety
and stagnation and requires urgent review,” ZHDA noted.
Of concern, according to the doctors, is also the
replacement of the chairperson of the department of surgery David Muchuweti.
“Muchuweti is a seasoned academic who has always been
expeditious in his defence of the ideals of this profession. His dismissal in
complete disregard of the university ordinances is a threat to the
self-governance of the department and the profession,” ZHDA, which is calling
for his reinstatement pending an investigation, said.
The doctors added that this had left them with no option,
but to speculate that the UZ-CHS was pursuing a punitive agenda on the students
who refused to be frog-marched to a questionable examination.
Furthermore, in an incredulous move, the class of 2020 has
been propelled forward to take their place as the current fifth years, with the
three months of teaching that they lost forfeited. Newsday
0 comments:
Post a Comment