LEBOGANG SEALE
TEACHING and learning have been disrupted at the Dobsonville Further Education and Training (FET) campus, prompting angry students to call for intervention by education authorities.
And as the strike entered its third day yesterday, some of the frustrated students resorted to drinking alcohol inside the campus premises.
The college was plunged into chaos on Monday after lecturers and administrative staff members embarked on a wildcat strike. They accused the campus manager, Andrew Dube, of verbally abusing them.
The staffers alleged that Dube had insulted them by remarking that “some of you are smelly, look like you have not had a bath, smell of alcohol and dress like hoboes”.
Dube also allegedly accused the staff members of neglecting their duties, saying their classrooms “are filthy, the toilets are disgusting, while the campus is dirty”.
He is said to have uttered these statements during a morning prayer meeting on Tuesday last week.
Staffers also accused Dube of mismanagement, alleging that he was liable for the administrative bungle where the college admitted 2 600 students this year – about 1 000 more than the desired number.
Last month, The Star published stories about how the FET colleges were dogged by mismanagement, corruption and inferior standards.
During the meetings, staff members have repeatedly called for Dube’s immediate suspension.
The staffers, who asked that their names not be revealed for fear of reprisal, alleged that Dube had had made it a habit since 2009 to insult the lecturers.
“These statements were in no way provoked… He had no right to insult us like that,” said one lecturer.
The staffers also accused the college’s management of dragging their feet in taking disciplinary action against Dube.
“We came here because we want better education to increase our chances to get jobs. Now this.
“We don’t know when the strike will end,” said Lehlohonolo Leslie, a marketing student.
Students said they were given letters notifying them of the strike on Tuesday, a day after the strike had started. Despite the letters clearly stating that lessons would resume yesterday, there was no teaching.
“It is hurting,” leslie said.
Comment from the Department of Higher Education and Training was not immediately available.
Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande announced this week that enrolment at the FET colleges has increased by 60 percent since last year.
He said legislation had been passed to make the FET colleges the institutions of choice.
Attempts to get comment from the college principal, Dan Nkosi, were unsuccessful.