EDITORIAL

THIRD YEARS’ PLIGHT, LONG HOLIDAY AGAIN?

The possibility of third years going for another holiday after the end of this semester is an issue that has raised concerns from all spheres in the university.

 The looming holiday seems to have come at wrong time since it has been greatly opposed by third year students. According to third year students from all the schools within main campus, they are not ready to go home again for such a long period. They wonder how they can be at home for nine months, equivalent to one academic year, and then come to school for one semester, three months, the back home for another long holiday again. This has caused a lot of unrest amongst students terming it ridiculous on the side of the administration. This has been witnessed in the demonstrations staged two weeks ago as they dared to break the window panes of the library and stone everything that stood in their way. They are accusing the university administration of using them as sacrificial lambs to pave room for accommodating the incoming first years that are set to report in October this year. They further accuse the administration for lacking vision and strategies to curb the accommodation menace by constructing more hostels.

The administration argues that it is not the university’s fault rather the government policy which requires that double intake be implemented by all public universities. According to professor Otike, outgoing dean School of Information Sciences, the issue of long holiday is just an emerging trend. It never used to be there in the past, as from 2011 going back. When the government implemented double intake program, most universities were caught unawares since they did not have adequate facilities, Moi University included.  The university administration argues that the university is set up in upcountry where there are no investments in such structures as rental houses where the extra population can be accommodated. Prof. Nathan Ogechi, DVC in charge of Academics, assured the students two weeks ago during the demonstration that there was no holiday after this semester for the third years and that the university is determined to have third years finish their academic year before breaking for attachment.

In Kenyatta University, students usually go for holiday as per the calendar of the university. For example, the incoming there is usually a four month holiday, from August to early January, after the end of each of academic year. In Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, JKUAT, they have a tri-semester programme where students go for a definite holiday after three semesters.

Why it is that Moi University which sits on large tracts of land of approximately 3600 hectares cannot construct enough hostels to accommodate its students? Aren’t there any investors to set up hostels in the university? Definitely a lot has to be done by the university administration to ensure that the unused land is put into use to solve the accommodation crisis which is the main cause of unnecessary long holidays.  Instead of setting up a milling factory, it would have been prudent for the administration to consider completion of hostel M. The university calendar should be adhered to the later so that everything runs smoothly; otherwise it will be good for nothing. Currently, it seems the administration is doing less because of the impromptu meetings to alter opening dates by postponing them with ‘until further notice’ label. Student leaders also need to be cautious on their part especially when informing their ‘comrades’ on sensitive issues.

THE INFOTIMES insists that it is a high time moi university administration to change. Giving excuses is not going to help; rather priorities should be set and implemented accordingly to avert. Failing to plan is planning to fail and therefore they should adhere to this.