By Hajaratu Kalokoh
Students of the Limkokwing College of Science and Technology staged a peaceful protest on Tuesday at the Ministry of Tertiary and Higher Education at New England Ville.
The students who matched from their campus at Hill Station to New England Ville were protesting over their tuition grants that haven’t been paid by the government to the university for the current academic year.
Limkokwing University is a global tertiary institution which seeks to blends holistic education with industrial driven skills. The college operates across Africa, Asia and Europe. In 2017 it opened its campus in Sierra Leone, becoming the first foreign university in the country to offer creativity centered courses.
But its course content and its private status means the fees are extremely high. In 2017 most of the students that were enrolled into college were given supported by government.
A year later when the government has changed, paying the fees of these students has been a thorny issue.
Last week the college had to reschedule the registration process for government sponsored students.
“Please be informed that the registration schedule on the 7th – 10th January 2020 for students who are government sponsored will be rescheduled to another date. The new dates of registration will be announced through another memo. The delay is caused by unforeseen circumstances and any in convenience is much regretted,” a statement from the administration reads.
Since October, the college has not reopened partly due to the problem.
Head of Registry at the university, Professor Sandy Samuel Kpaka, explained to Politico that, the college cannot continue to operate with its limited resources. He said they have engaged the government on the payment of the tuition fees.
“We have done so much in terms of sustaining the university and we have been getting 80% fund from Malaysia. Government has made commitment and from the meeting we have been having with them (Ministry of Technical and Higher Education) they are still committed to paying their fees (government sponsored students),” Prof. Kpaka said.
Nasratu Kargbo, a year four students at Communication Multimedia & Broadcasting Department told Politico that the standoff hasn’t helped them. She urged the government to honor their commitment.
She said, “We are asking them (government) to pay. Quality education is very important in every nation and Sierra Leone is not an exception. We know the government’s main goal is to give free quality education, so we are asking them to please settle the issue.”
On Tuesday, what started out as a peaceful protest walk was interrupted by Police officers firing teargas at unarmed students.
Mustapha Kamara is a prospective final year student at the Information Communication and Technology department, he told Politico that Police attempted to disperse them with tear gas canisters and later arrested some of their colleagues.
“We decided to do a peaceful match to the ministry to ask the ministry about our current status with regards to fees. The police stopped us at Hill Cut junction towards St Mary’s supermarket and started firing tear gas canisters. They also arrested some of our colleagues.”
“When we approached the ministry… the minister told us that they are not the one who set up Limkokwing. He said it is a private University, as if we are not Sierra Leoneans,” Kamara explained.
When students arrived at the ministry, the Minister Prof. Aiah Gbakima addressed them in a brief statement. Politico later contacted the ministry for comments on the status of government sponsored student at the college.
The Permanent Secretary, Gilbert Cooper promised to grant Politico an interview at 4:30pm. But he didn’t respond to calls or a text message.
Meanwhile it is not clear when students at Limkokwing will resume classes. The turmoil might just lead to further delay in the university’s academic calendar.
Copyright © 2020 Politico Online
