UCE student attempts suicide over failure to write examinations

Dumisani Nsingo Senior Reporter
A student at the United College of Education (UCE) attempted to commit suicide by taking an overdose of tablets last Friday evening in protest over being barred from writing final examinations after failing to submit overdue assignments.Netia Msipa was due to sit for her final examinations this week beginning tomorrow but will not do so as she did not submit her assignments during the period when she was on teaching practice.

“Authorities kept on calling her name during examination rehearsals in the afternoon and we knew that there was something wrong. It was at that time that we learnt that she didn’t submit her distance assignments and it means she will have to defer.

“Her failure to submit the assignments means she will not sit for the examinations. Even if she were to be allowed by the college authorities, assessors from the University of Zimbabwe’s Faculty of Teacher Education will seek clarity as to why she was allowed to write the exams,” said one student on condition of anonymity.

The UZ assessors are set to visit the institution for assessment next month.

The Dean of Students a Mr A Blue Mangozho could neither confirm nor deny the incident saying that he was out of town.

“I am sorry I cannot give you any details pertaining to that, I haven’t heard anything of that nature as I have only arrived from Masvingo early this morning (yesterday),” he said.

Upon taking an overdose Msipa who had collapsed and was frothing was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital where she was admitted.

A visit by the news crew to Mpilo Hospital revealed that Msipa who was admitted in Ward B2 was recuperating and was said to be in a stable condition.

“She is responding quite well to medication and I can say she is now in a stable condition though she is complaining of a severe headache,” said a nurse in attendance.

Efforts to get a comment from the police were fruitless by the time of going to press as Bulawayo’s police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo’s mobile phone went unanswered.