Mzuni graduates frustrated over graduation delays: ‘We cannot secure employment without papers’
Graduates who finished their studies at Mzuzu University (Mzuni) in 2019 have expressed disappointment and frustration over delays by the college management to conduct their graduation.
The graduates have lamented that the delays to conduct the graduation and present them with their academic papers is hindering them from securing jobs as prospective employers cannot trust that they really went through the corridors of the university without papers.
Secretary for the graduation taskforce, Andrew Maliro, made the lamentations at a press briefing the disgruntled graduates held in Lilongwe on Tuesday morning.
“Some of us have lost jobs because we failed to produce the papers. Some of us wanted to advance our education, master’s degrees, but we cannot in the absence of the papers,” said Maliro.
The graduates have given the university management up to February 12, 2021, to provide details of the graduation scheduled for February 26, 2021, including names and grades of each graduate.
Maliro stressed that should the university management continue tossing them around on the matter, they will be compelled to hold a vigil at the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) at the Capital Hill, Lilongwe.
“We wish to appeal to President Lazarus Chakwera to intervene on the matter. We are suffering a lot because of lack of our papers,” he said.
The graduates first demonstrated in November 2020 after the university communicated that graduation would take place on January 27 this year before shifting it to February 26.
One of the graduates, Oscar Ulili, said they are not asking for a prestigious and fancy graduation, but simply a normal event, virtual or physical, where they can be awarded with their academic qualification papers.
“We simply need them to organize a simple congregation and then we get our degree certificates,” emphasized Ulili.
Graduation is only a ceremony, as long as you dont have issues with the University papers can be dispatched…mpakedi dziko silikusuntha if this is way of thinking.
Last time i checked,there is no law that states that papers must be given only during at graduation event…i think kumalawi kuno tinakalidi otsalila coz during this trying time mpamene tinakaonetsa udolo wathu in the way of handing such matters…and virtual is not bad either like thru microsoft teams,zoom
Why not just give them their certificates? Does that require a graduation ceremony? I remember I complete my MA degree some years back, got my transcripts and the graduation took place half a year down the line. Its just a ceremonial function. Give them their papers and the graduation symbolic function can take place after we get the COVID-19 jabs from AstraZeneca. We get vaccinated first and then congregate for the graduation ceremony
Ntchito kulibe kunjaku mafana. Boma lilibe ndalama zokulemberani ntchito. Mwina kapena ku masters mukufunako poti olipila ndinu. Did you plan for self employment?
Okufa lero sangafe mawa. Or popanda pepara wina akaipeza ntchito. Panopa anthu akuchotsedwa ntchito ndiye mwati inu mukaipeza kapena achita kale advertisement? Polani moto.
Just give them their papers, the graduation ceremony can always be done at a later date for the pictures, other shenanigans and so forth. Kuli corona. They should understand.