No maths Poly students in limbo

THE Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education will in the next two weeks announce new guidelines on what should happen to students who were enrolled at institutions of higher learning without having passed Mathematics at Ordinary Level.

Thousands of students at polytechnics in the country have been left stranded following a Government directive that all students who did not pass Mathematics at Ordinary Level should not proceed to the next level until they produce proof that they have passed the subject.

Higher and Tertiary Education Deputy Minister Dr Godfrey Gandawa said the issue was under discussion within the ministry.

“We are currently seized with the matter together with the minister, we are doing our best to correct the anomaly because complaints were raised to us about the issue and we will have made our conclusion in the next two weeks and make a public announcement,” said Dr Gandawa.

One affected student said she completed a National Certificate and was told she cannot proceed to the next level as she does not have Mathematics.

“I have no option. I am at home because I cannot proceed to study towards a National Diploma because I have no Mathematics at Ordinary level,” said the student.

Some students are crying foul because the directive came at a time when they had already paid fees and were in the middle of studies.

Dr Gandawa, however, said the institutions were supposed to inform the students from the onset that they did not qualify to be enrolled rather than waiting to clarify the matter at a later stage.

“In the first place they should have made it clear that Mathematics is a prerequisite and those who did not have it were not going to enroll at all. Everyone who starts school expects progression, so you cannot allow one to do NC then when they want to further their studies you start talking of more requirements. We have received complaints from polytechnics over these affected students and we will not sit and watch, we will ensure that we give the students a clear position now that we are in office,” added Dr Gandawa.