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to provide adequate funding for cadetship students saying the move was a deliberate ploy to deprive them of the right to education.

Hundreds of students in colleges and universities across the country depend on the cadetship scheme in financing their studies.

However, at the weekend the Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Mr Lutho Tapela announced that there was no money for students on the cadetship scheme.
He said the $296,2 million allocated to his ministry by Treasury was too little and was likely to be gobbled by Government debts to tertiary institutions.

In separate interviews yesterday students’ representative leaders said it was disheartening that Government was failing to address their concerns.
They lashed out at Finance Minister Tendai Biti, accusing him of misallocating funds in his 2012 budget.
The National University of Science and Technology (Nust)   students’ representative council president, Mr Kudzai Hove said inadequate funding for tertiary learning was a mockery that should not be tolerated.

“Looking at the situation on the ground it comes as a surprise that Government has the audacity to tell the public that it does not have money for its students. This is a wake-up call for students to stand up and challenge such misprioritisation of funding,” said Mr Hove.
Outgoing Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu) president Mr Tafadzwa Tuboy Mugwadi said lack of funding for tertiary institutions was retrogressive and embarrassing.

“It is disheartening for the Government to tell students that it has no money. We have the President, Ministers and Members of Parliament who preside over Cabinet business that fails to take care of its students.
“These people are driving expensive vehicles and spend a lot of Government resources yet they fail to fund higher education. We boast of education successes as a country but are failing to support it. This is very notorious and as students we demand our own share of support,” said Mr Mugwadi.

“We demand our right to education. It is the mandate of the Government to give us support. Minister Biti presented a budget that underrates students when other countries the world over are prioritising them.
“If education was fully supported this country would not be complaining of shortage of engineers, health practitioners, educators and quality leaders. Our Government is taking education for granted.”
Zanu-PF secretary for education and former Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu also expressed concern over inadequate funding of the education sector.
“Cadetship is very important. That is why we introduced it to cater for the less privileged students who could not afford tertiary education on condition that they would pay back after completing their studies,” said Dr

Ndlovu.

“The 2012 budget failed to meet the education needs at a time when all state universities and colleges need support for outstanding infrastructure development among other projects. Lack of adequate budget allocations for the sector must be condemned.
“This trend will deprive Zimbabweans of their inalienable right to education and training so that they remain forever a recruitment ground for workers rather than employment creators. When universities open we expect students on cadetship to learn.”

Dr Ndlovu said lack of funding for higher education would negatively affect the indigenisation programme. He said people with knowledge and skills  should champion the indigenisation programme if it is to yield the desired results.

Dr Ndlovu urged Parliamentarians to move a motion in the next           Parliament session to have the budget allocation for tertiary education increased.
“The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education has nothing to defend in this budget and they should demand an increased allocation. Students, private citizens and Members of the House of Assembly should also take a stand on this issue.

“The revenue generated from the sale of diamonds and other minerals in the country should also be channelled towards the funding of education. We are also calling for the establishment of an education bank that will provide loans specifically for the sector.

“We call on other banks and pension funds to have a window for education. The money is there, what is needed is commitment to fund the sector,” said Dr Ndlovu.
According to figures released by the Ministry of Higher Education last year, 33 568 students were on cadetship out of a student population of 75 000 and only $7 million was paid to tertiary institutions while $15 million remained outstanding.

The development means tertiary institutions in the country must brace for another financially strenuous year as the Government continues struggling to meet its obligations.