Students of the Federal College of Agriculture protest over colleague run over by car

The students of the Federal College of Agriculture, Moore Plantation, Apata, Ibadan,Oyo State, have refused to return to classes despite the news that the student who was hit by a car on Wednesday had come out of a coma.

 

Aminu Adekola, a 200L of Agricultural Technology in the school, was hit by a driver who veered off the road unto the path of the student who was walking towards the school gate.

According to eyewitness reports, the driver, who was a learner, was trying to avoid a head-on collision with a truck that strayed off its lane in an attempt to avoid a pothole, Punch reports.

Students of the institution accused officials of the Oyo State Ministry of Works of digging the hole in 2014 while repairing a rusty water pipe.

Our correspondent, who visited the scene around 7.15 am on Thursday, observed that the students had caused a gridlock on the Ibadan-Abeokuta Road after blocking the road with tyres, planks and other objects.

The students also dug the road to stop free traffic flow in front of the school as all vehicles taking the route were forced to take an alternative road.

The road, which was blocked by the students, connects inner Ibadan with some communities, including Apata, Owode and Omi-Adio.

Our correspondent also observed that several policemen were stationed at the scene to forestall a further breakdown of law and order.

The team was led by the Divisional Police Officer, Apata, Mr. Hassan Khalil.

The students also protested against the deployment of an Armoured Personnel Carrier by the police.

A worker of the institution said the students locked and chased employees out of their offices.

The students later stormed the state secretariat but could not gain entrance into the premises.

One of the students, who identified himself as Sadiq, blamed the water corporation for the accident.

He said students from other tertiary institutions in the state had joined in the protest.

“From what we heard, our colleague was hit by a learner who was avoiding a truck. The truck was trying to avoid entering a pothole. The hole was dug last year by officials of the water corporation. They worked there for many days and after their work, they left the huge hole.

“There should be a fly-over in front of the school gate to protect the students from accidents or in the interim, speed breakers. This is an expressway and students cross the road at great risk all the time,” he added.

Source : The Pulse.

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Agriculture students demand to be taught in English

 

Johannesburg - Students interrupted classes at the Elsenburg Agricultural College, near Stellenbosch, on Thursday, in protest against its language policy.

“We want English only,” Student Representative Council (SRC) chairperson Sabelo Ngcobo said.

He said the college was giving priority to Afrikaans, in which case it should implement the Western Cape government’s language policy and teach in English, Afrikaans, and Xhosa. The college fell under the Western Cape agriculture department.

According to Ngcobo, about 80% of the students were white and Afrikaans speaking.

It currently had a dual English/Afrikaans language policy, but Ngcobo said Afrikaans was getting priority.
"Their Afrikaans privilege is blocking us. We are made to feel that we are beggars at Elsenburg."

AfriForum Youth said it was concerned that the college failed to act against the illegal protest. It would turn to the courts should the institution fail to act by Monday, its national chairperson, Henk Maree, said in a statement.

Ngcobo said there would be no teaching on Friday.

Students met Western Cape Agriculture MEC Alan Winde on Thursday. It was decided that the CCMA would on Monday start mediation efforts between the parties involved.

"While this process is unfolding, we want... full access, we want English," Ngcobo said.

Another student, Simphiwe Ntuza, said: "We just want English as the medium of instruction. If they want Afrikaans, they must put Xhosa also."

Afriforum Youth wanted the college to take disciplinary action against the protesters, and to expel Ngcobo and other SRC members involved in the disruption.

"We cannot stand by and watch while a small group of radicals determines the college’s agenda," Maree said.

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