* Staff Reporter
5 April 2006
Windhoek — THE Namibia National Students' Organisation (Nanso) says the increase in theft and fraud at higher-learning institutions is tarnishing the image of the country and compromising the qualifications of those who graduate from them.
Nanso's Secretary General, Neville Andre Itope, said yesterday that they were embarrassed by the corruption at institutions such as the University of Namibia - "which is supposed to be a centre of excellence".
At least four different cases of fraud or theft at Unam are being investigated at the moment.
In one of the most recent cases, Unam suspended its Pro Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Research, Professor Geoffrey Kiangi, and the Manager of its Computer Centre, Kaggere Suresh, on allegations of theft of 12 computers worth N$70 000 from the university's premises.
"Indeed, corruption at Unam is tarnishing the quality of education, and the students are the ones that are suffering from it, because students coming from Unam are being associated with the corrupt practices that are being practised by the University staff," Nanso said in a statement.
The student body said the corruption tarnished the credibility of degrees attained at Unam and was embarrassing for Namibia.
Nanso said the corruption by self-centred individuals would also lead to Unam being unable to attract good lecturers.
"We congratulate the university for exposing those individuals that have been practising corruption at Unam. The students will assist in fighting corruption on the campus," Nanso said.
The union also called on Unam to use external organisations and law-enforcement agencies to root out corruption at the university.
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