‘Mantoetse Maama
Protesting Lesotho College of Education (LCE) students had to back down this week after management gave them an ultimatum to resume classes or vacate the teacher-training institution.
The trainee teachers started boycotting classes on Tuesday morning, protesting the ’s suspension of seven colleagues who had been found guilty of misconduct.
But as the learners embarked on the class-boycott, management warned they should either call-off the protest or leave the institution.
LCE Rector, John Oliphant, on Tuesday related at a media conference what transpired: “The management is conscious of the college’s vision and mission to prepare competent teachers.
“Our understanding is that a competent teacher is not only able to effectively teach, but also respect the rules and regulations and laws that govern education. They generally have to be law-abiding citizens; they have to respect the ethics of their profession.
“The protest has come about as a result of the students’ complaint or dissatisfaction over the suspension of seven of their colleagues.
“These seven have been found guilty of bringing the college into disrepute by engaging in violent, indecent, disorderly and threatening behaviour.
“The suspension followed a proper hearing; nothing unprocedural was done, hence the decision stands.”
The rector further said the students were members of a social group by the name of Liboba, which the college banned in 2011.
The decision to outlaw the group was made after its members fought with students who were doing technical courses, he added.
“But we heard, through rumour, that the group was still around despite the ban. At this college, all the groups have been registered and they are well-known, but this one holds meetings in the dark.”
According to Dr Oliphant, what led to the students’ ban were events that took place three months ago.
“The members went to Room C31 on the night of 28 February and chased away first-year students who stay in that apartment, saying they were going to have their meeting there.
“Another member of Liboba got into the ceiling, and then fell into the first years’ room, who caught and took him to the school’s security. That student was taken to the police and spent the night in a police cell.”
But after the students were served with suspension letters on Monday, their colleagues decided to boycott classes.
“On Monday afternoon, the seven students were served with suspension letters. We expect they are not here; their guardians or
parents were informed by the registrar.
“Today, I addressed the students at the college’s football field where I warned them, especially those in the 3rd year, that if they don’t go back to the lecture-rooms within a certain period of time, they should leave the colleges’ compound as the senate’s decision was final.
“We had a meeting again on Friday last week with members of the senate after the students’ complaints, but we realised that we had made the right decision of finding them guilty.”
The Students’ Representative Council (SRC) treasurer, Moeketsi Motlaleng, yesterday said the learners had to end the boycott for the sake of their careers.
“We thought about our future because we were told that if we don’t consider the management decision, we would be forced to go home, and this was going to be a problem for our future,” he said
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