Month: March 2015
Overpriced graduation gown an exploitation to students
Graduation day cannot be complete without the graduation dress (gowns, hoods and mortar boards), the piece of fabric worn by grandaunts acts as a symbol marking the end of one’s University journey.
The University of Zambia (UNZA) last year rebranded and designed new academic gowns which where patented by PACRA.
The move by management to patent the graduation dress was in a bid to curb illegal reproduction of the dress by outside suppliers.
According to a circular issued to all Graduating, Postgraduate and Undergraduate Students by the University Registrar Dr Kavwanga Yambayamba, he stated that no one can produce the gowns except the supplier who has entered into agreement with the University of Zambia.
Dr Yambayamba said anyone who abrogates this shall be persecuted under the law.
He said the sale of gowns will be conducted through Academic office only and those who do not purchase or hire through the Academic office shall not be allowed to attend the graduation ceremony.
Dr Yambayamba urged students to pay in instalments to avoid last minute pressures and disappointments.
The student populace have however received this information with mixed reactions, Geoffrey Daka a third year student in the school of Education said the move by management to have a uniform dress for all grandaunts is a good move and should be supported by all students.
However, Daka stated that UNZA is a public University and most students that come to the institution are under privileged and Bursary dependant.
He noted that the Bursaries committee does not give students a special fund for graduation so the move by management to sell a bachelors gown at k1,650.00 and Hiring at k1,320.00 is an exploitation to the already poor.
Daka said despite the gowns being beautiful, most students may fail to attend their graduation; a situation he describes as sad after four years or more of toil at the University.
School of Humanities graduating student Ester Kapusa said most student’s will shan this year’s graduation not because they do not want to participate but because they cannot afford to buy the graduation dress.
She said most students cannot settle outstanding balances they owe to the institution including those on government bursary due to financial hardships.
Kapusa said instead of students thinking of how they will settle their outstanding debts, they now have to incur extra debts in a bid to purchase the gown.
She has since appealed to management to reconsider the prices of the gowns as they are too expensive for the majority of students at the institution.
Meanwhile, University of Zambia Student Union (UNZASU) publicity secretary Kamona Lindunda said UNZASU has arranged a meeting between management and graduating student to discuss the issue pertaining to the gowns.
Lindunda has appealed to all graduating students to attend the meeting on Friday 27th March to present their grievances to management in regards to the prices of the gowns.
Unscripted 