By Trevor Makonyonga
Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) graduands have vented their discontentment over their scheduled virtual graduation ceremony.
The ceremony is set to be held on the 3rd of October 3 and will air on ZBC TV and CUT Facebook page.
The graduands accused the university of rushing them and charging exorbitant prices as well as setting unrealistic stipulations for the graduation.
Graduands who spoke to Bustop TV said they had many unanswered questions from the varsity.
“Do you know the pain of writing an exam pen ichitsvedza nesanitizer and uchitadza kufema nemask for them to do us like this. Think of four years paying fees ichirwadza. Since grade zero wakamirira this big day zvoitwa so. Four good years and you’ve got no memories to show for that certificate. Tatichida kuitawo Jerusalema challenge tiri mumicheka mitema iyoyo.”
Another one said, “Asi the virtual part ikundirwadza. Dai ndakangoitawo serious nelife amana ndukuendawo kurikuenda mbinga uko. I was practicing madance moves epaJerusalema only to be given this heartbreak. Ko tikafurira mafirst class nemamasters kuti varambe kuenda toenda tese so that tonovaomberera mushe. Kudzidza 4yrs kuti tione tv here. Why the rush for graduation ceremony whilst kusina mabasa, lets wait fr th situation to calm down till it permits fr a physical graduation. 40 usd compulsory regalia takagara kumba? Tichionera pa ZBC. Kutombunyikidzwa kunzi compulsory cz thy knw kuty hapana angatenga regalia iri kudhura kudaro apa for online grad, they knw. But zvitori zekubirana pachena by ginde chairo. What’s happening is just heartbreaking.
A communique from the university read, “In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the modalities of the 2020 graduation for the University will be a Virtual Ceremony where the following will be capped physically at the graduation venue: All DPhil/PhD Graduands.
All MPhil Graduands, Selected MSc Graduands with Distinctions and highest GPA, Selected Bachelor’s Graduands with First Class and highest GPA. NB: (These Graduands shall be formally invited to attend physically and will be compulsory to have a complete graduation regalia composed of a gown, cap and hood).
“The rest of the Graduands will graduate virtually in the comfort of their homes with their families. Proceedings will be live-streamed on ZTV and CUT Facebook. Graduands who are graduating virtually will follow proceedings in their gowns and respond to announcements as shalt be beamed live by ZTV and CUT Facebook.” The college said. The Graduation Fee is twenty United States Dollars (US$20) or equivalent in Zimbabwe Dollars (ZWL). Payment of Graduation. Fee is compulsory to all Graduands (that is, whether they graduate physically or virtually). Purchase of Graduation Regalia and payment of Graduation Fee should be done by Monday, 28 September 2020. Graduation Regalia is obtainable on Campus and at CUT ZIMDEF Office.”
