The Plight of a University Student

BY WESONGA QUINTAS

Having made it to University through whichever means is one of the greatest achievements for most of us. It feels so nice to be called a comrade. This explains why every High school student including one who has scored a D plain in Mock exams will always have a dream of joining university one day. However, this prestigious title comes with so many complications:

To begin with, is the much coveted HELB money which gives us a lot of support. Where the problem comes in is that the amount remains constant for the whole academic period and yet the cost of living is rising day in day out. One still gets the same amount he used to get four or five years ago when the price of sugar was 62 bob as compared to the current shocking 220 bob. To make it worse, the loans Board deducts Ksh.500 each year while the bank makes a further deduction in the name of remittance fee.

The society then makes life of a comrade even tougher. Prices for basic commodities in campus are deliberately higher than in other places. This behavior is at its peak at Moi University. All these business people know is that university student have money. They imagine that that if one is not given a government loan, then he/she is a PSSP student and must be rich. Simply how else do they manage the high school fees? I wish these enterprising men and women knew the reality of who exactly a comrade is and how they make ends meet. May be we should stop putting on these suits and expensive jeans and hair so that they can see the point am putting across.

For those of my type who come from the villages, things are the worst. If you apply for bursary, you can only be considered last just because ‘you have money.’ Furthermore, because of being at university, you will be expected to give advice on every matter in the village. They imagine you are a genius. You are to help repair all T.V’s, motor bikes and watches and explain to the people what is going on at the Hague including names of all the judges and the lawyers involved in the case plus the countries they come from and still ensure there are no school drop outs in the village .All children must follow your way to university and you must be a role model.

It does not just stop there. When the local primary school Head teacher has ‘misused’ the FPE funds, you will be expected to be an auditor and estimate whether the classroom that was constructed is worth the said amount. If you conclude that the head teacher was right, you are in trouble. Those who want family planning will find your home a destination not forgetting those who carelessly block their SIM cards and bring them to you to unblock for them!

At school, lecturers don’t teach seriously as it is done at middle level colleges just because ‘you are bright’.You disapproved KNEC. What follows is bulky handouts when you are already broke and have nothing to eat leave alone having somewhere to sleep after missing a room in campus forcing you to rent a house seven kilometres away.

In case of a misfortune, just in case, a comrade is to be suspended for 1000 academic days (excluding weekends and holidays) unless you meet a merciful Senate that will send you home for ‘only’ one academic year; not the 14-day High school suspension! Still if you want to confirm that getting university admission is committing a crime; introduce yourself as such to a policeman. Not even a policewoman. Just try tomorrow.