Students left out in the cold
Allowances to students studying in Russia are delayed and the students say it is becoming increasingly difficult to meet basic needs during their exam time.
More than 200 Namibian students studying in Russia on scholarships are struggling to survive after government failed to send their living allowances for nearly seven weeks.
The 213 students who are on a full-bonded scholarship from the health ministry last received their living allowances in February.
By yesterday afternoon a student confirmed that they had still not received any money.
“We demand transparency. We deserve the right to know what is going on and whether our scholarships are in jeopardy, whether we need to make alternative plans for living allowances,” students said.
The students that are studying in different courses ranging from Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Medical Technicians and Medical Engineering at the First Moscow State Medical University and the People's Friendship University of Russia.
The students arrived in different groups in Russia with the first group of students having arrived in October 2013 already, while the last group was sent in February 2015.
According to the students the last allowance that was received from the ministry in February covered the period for February, March and April.
The next payment was due in the first week of May for May, June and July, but has still not been received.
“This is very alarming since we are in our final month of our second semester and its exam time,” the students say.
“No student under a fully bonded scholarship should experience this, nor should any of us ever contemplate whether we should use our last 100 rubles (roughly N$22) to buy bread to eat, or to pay for a transport ticket enough only for a single day. We can't even buy essentials such as soap, deodorant or washing powder. We never signed up for this,” they said.
The students say they are also unable to afford medication. “Our medical aid only covers consultations with doctors at our respective university clinics. All medication prescribed is 100% payable by us at the pharmacies,” they said.
Originally, the scholarship provided by the ministry included a return ticket from Russia after completion of studies, the study permit and registration fees. Accommodation and meals were provided by the training institution but books and stationery formed also formed part of the scholarship as did the medical care.
However, amendments had to be made to the agreement since the students all live in self-catering hostels.
The ministry therefore now pays for the registration, tuition and accommodation fees at the start of every academic year, commencing on 1 September.
Meanwhile, students receive a living allowance every three months, which is used to pay for food, transport to and from classes, books and stationery, training kits, toiletries and clothes, renewals of student visas and medication.
Currently students are unable to attend classes since they have no funds to pay for these.
According to the students they have resorted to making turns to attend classes or exam consultations by lending personalised student transport cards, which usually are credited for a month without having a limit on rides.
“This practice, however, is illegal,” the students say.
Students opened their accounts at the First National Bank upon the request of the ministry and have also been informed that the bank will close any current account that has not been used either in the form of a deposit or withdrawals within 90 days.
Some students' accounts were already closed because of the late payments made by the ministry and this resulted in these students not being able to receive any eventual payments made.
“Our allowances started off being a week late, then two weeks and now currently it has been seven weeks,” they said.
While the students have lodged complaints about the late payment of allowances, these have only been met with excuses, they say.
“We are in the dark about the future of our scholarships, and whether or not there will be sufficient funds to pay for our tuition and accommodation in the next academic year. All of this has us all anxious and restless about the future.
“If there is no money, then they should not play hide and seek with us. They need to tell us the truth. This will help us in determining what we should do concerning our future.”
The ministry said it is in the process of paying the monthly living allowance for May, June and July 2017 and says it will be received this month. According to the ministry, the students receive about N$6 600 per month.
ELLANIE SMIT
The 213 students who are on a full-bonded scholarship from the health ministry last received their living allowances in February.
By yesterday afternoon a student confirmed that they had still not received any money.
“We demand transparency. We deserve the right to know what is going on and whether our scholarships are in jeopardy, whether we need to make alternative plans for living allowances,” students said.
The students that are studying in different courses ranging from Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Medical Technicians and Medical Engineering at the First Moscow State Medical University and the People's Friendship University of Russia.
The students arrived in different groups in Russia with the first group of students having arrived in October 2013 already, while the last group was sent in February 2015.
According to the students the last allowance that was received from the ministry in February covered the period for February, March and April.
The next payment was due in the first week of May for May, June and July, but has still not been received.
“This is very alarming since we are in our final month of our second semester and its exam time,” the students say.
“No student under a fully bonded scholarship should experience this, nor should any of us ever contemplate whether we should use our last 100 rubles (roughly N$22) to buy bread to eat, or to pay for a transport ticket enough only for a single day. We can't even buy essentials such as soap, deodorant or washing powder. We never signed up for this,” they said.
The students say they are also unable to afford medication. “Our medical aid only covers consultations with doctors at our respective university clinics. All medication prescribed is 100% payable by us at the pharmacies,” they said.
Originally, the scholarship provided by the ministry included a return ticket from Russia after completion of studies, the study permit and registration fees. Accommodation and meals were provided by the training institution but books and stationery formed also formed part of the scholarship as did the medical care.
However, amendments had to be made to the agreement since the students all live in self-catering hostels.
The ministry therefore now pays for the registration, tuition and accommodation fees at the start of every academic year, commencing on 1 September.
Meanwhile, students receive a living allowance every three months, which is used to pay for food, transport to and from classes, books and stationery, training kits, toiletries and clothes, renewals of student visas and medication.
Currently students are unable to attend classes since they have no funds to pay for these.
According to the students they have resorted to making turns to attend classes or exam consultations by lending personalised student transport cards, which usually are credited for a month without having a limit on rides.
“This practice, however, is illegal,” the students say.
Students opened their accounts at the First National Bank upon the request of the ministry and have also been informed that the bank will close any current account that has not been used either in the form of a deposit or withdrawals within 90 days.
Some students' accounts were already closed because of the late payments made by the ministry and this resulted in these students not being able to receive any eventual payments made.
“Our allowances started off being a week late, then two weeks and now currently it has been seven weeks,” they said.
While the students have lodged complaints about the late payment of allowances, these have only been met with excuses, they say.
“We are in the dark about the future of our scholarships, and whether or not there will be sufficient funds to pay for our tuition and accommodation in the next academic year. All of this has us all anxious and restless about the future.
“If there is no money, then they should not play hide and seek with us. They need to tell us the truth. This will help us in determining what we should do concerning our future.”
The ministry said it is in the process of paying the monthly living allowance for May, June and July 2017 and says it will be received this month. According to the ministry, the students receive about N$6 600 per month.
ELLANIE SMIT
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