TSMHS Students Strike Over College Admins' Stolidity
Students of Thika School of Medical & Health Sciences on
Tuesday demonstrated along Thika streets following the college administration’s
refusal to allow them to have a students’ senate.
They alleged that the College Board refused to meet them this
morning to iron out issues but instead dismissed them by telling them to air
their grievances through their class representatives.
The protest has come after a lull of nearly two years in the
institution with the students pushing for an independent student leadership.
They say that after coming up with a students’ constitution last year, the
administration mutilated it to suit their (administration) interests. For
instance, the post of the students’ Vice Presidents was merged with that of the
Academic Affairs minister, a move that rendered it very difficult to work with.
To ensure that their voice is heard, the students want to
conduct elections this semester that represent the wishes of the entire student
body and not a few appointees of the admins.
Among other pressing issues, they also want the admin to
recognise the students’ leadership Act of colleges and universities. They are
also opposed to the college’s move to have freshers from secondary schools
taking over the students’ senate, disregarding all those who have stayed in the
institution for quite some time. They accuse the administration of using that
tactic locking out those doing certificate courses whose term of schooling is
limited to 2 years.
The students are also seeking solutions to their own safety
especially those schooling in the Highway Campus who are always in danger of
road accidents. They claim that of late, three students have been knocked down
by speeding vehicles, the latest one being that of a female student named Catherine
who was hit by a vehicle on Monday.
Just like in the previous cases, the college administration
gave her case some lukewarm response since she is the one who had to foot for
her own hospital bill of over Sh. 9,000.
They are therefore calling for a students’ voice to advocate
for a zebra crossing where those students cross that part of the road.
“We took to the streets as a last resort after the college
principal refused to meet us this morning. The admins keep threating those who
advocated for a student’ senate with expulsion, a move that made us send an
emissary to Education Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Okeng'o Matiang'I yesterday (Monday),” said one student who didn’t his identity
disclosed in fear of victimisation.
The students vowed
to soldier on until their grievances were addressed.
Efforts to reach
the administration for comments were fruitless.
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