Affirmative Action Group (AAG) Petitions (Nust) To Increase Enrolment Quota Of Female Students From Matebeleland.

BLACK empowerment lobby group, the Affirmative Action Group (AAG), has petitioned the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) to increase the enrolment quota of female students from Matebeleland.

The country’s second oldest state university, situated in Bulawayo, has come under fire in the past for discriminating against pupils from Matebeleland in its student recruitment policy.

In a letter addressed to the university’s vice chancellor, dated 4 November 2015, AAG’ secretary for women affairs, Mrs S. Njolome, said, “In the face of historical social marginalisation, any demographic groups still struggle to catch up with the social capital levels attained by others over years.”

Njolome said it is the prerogative of institutions such as Nust to ensure that the scales are tipped to create a balance.

“This letter serves to propose a 15% enrolment quota for Matebeleland female students at Nust. This is necessitated by the realisation that, at all levels of society and despite making up a majority of the population, women in Zimbabwe still play a small part in leadership positions.

“A likely remedy being the deliberate educational empowerment of the girl child towards a future leadership with proportionate representation of the demographic dynamics.

“By virtue of location in the region, Nust has a direct role in ensuring the betterment of citizens of the region,” said Njolome.

The empowerment group urged Nust to take a leading role in empowerment initiatives.

Meanwhile, the university will soon have a new vice chancellor after the contract of the incumbent, Professor Lindela Ndlovu, expired and will not be renewed.

Prof Ndlovu had been serving in that capacity since October 2005, prior to the expiry of his contract.

Nust’s pro-vice chancellor Professor Samson Ndlovu, has been appointed acting vice chancellor. source-newzimbabwe