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Friday, 22 November 2013

STUDENTS WANT COURT TO VOID EXAMS

Students at the University of Swaziland (Uniswa) are to go to the High Court to get the examinations taking place this week declared void.

Armed police have been guarding examinations halls after students protested that the examinations should be postponed. 

Police also raided students’ dormitory rooms using teargas and arrested student leaders. Students report they were later beaten up at police stations.

Students have been protesting about slow payment of allowances and poor conditions at the university. Teaching was disrupted during the semester just ending and students say classes should have continued until courses were completed before exams took place.

Maxwell Dlamini, Presidents of the Uniswa Students representative Council, said, ‘We are preparing a mother of all court battles that will seek to render the examination null and void on the basis that they were held under an unconducive and unenabling environment and outside the rules and regulations governing examinations. 

‘Not only were students harassed, tortured, beaten, piled up at Block S [dormitories], but they were stopped from studying by police officers who kicked them out of their rooms and classes where they were studying. 

‘This led to students to be emotionally, psychologically, physically and physiologically traumatised.’

In an appeal to students published on Facebook, Dlamini said, ‘Students are urged to remain calm, cool and collected and must assist us with pictures and videos of what was happening before the exams to build a strong case. 

‘We also request students to open up cases of harassment against the cops to help strengthen our case.’
He added, ‘We will do all we can and possible to protect and promote the interests and rights of each and every students, hence we will make sure that even those who didn’t write the exams are given a chance to do so.’

See also

POLICE UNIVERSITY VIOLENCE WAS A ‘WAR’
STUDENTS UNDER SIEGE BY ARMED POLICE
STUDENTS FLEE ROOMS AS POLICE ATTACK

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