By Alieu Ceesay
The Staff Welfare Association of the University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (SWA-USET) has announced a sit-down strike beginning Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at the university’s main campus in Kanifing. The action, driven by mounting frustrations over poor hygiene conditions, inadequate learning materials, and irregular lecture schedules, highlights a growing crisis threatening the quality of education at the institution.
The association’s demands center on urgent improvements to the university’s learning environment. Students and staff alike have voiced concerns about the lack of basic resources, including chairs, laboratory equipment, and practical tools, which are essential for effective teaching and learning. Additionally, erratic lecture schedules have disrupted academic progress, leaving students unprepared and frustrated.
Abubacarr Gibba, a student of Electrical Engineering, articulated the challenges faced by the student body. “The learning environment has deteriorated significantly over the past academic year,” Gibba said. “Basic essentials such as chairs, laboratory equipment, and practical tools remain in short supply, while scheduled lectures have become increasingly irregular. This situation is deeply frustrating.”
Gibba emphasized the critical need for a conducive learning environment to ensure quality education. “We want to learn, we want to grow, but the conditions here make it almost impossible,” he added. The postponement of final examinations, originally scheduled for June 9, has further compounded students’ concerns, with multiple delays disrupting their academic plans.
Reports indicate that some lecturers have already begun their own sit-down strike, exacerbating the academic challenges. The lack of consistent teaching has left students struggling to keep up with coursework, raising fears about their preparedness for future assessments.
The university’s management has acknowledged the planned strike and attributed many of the issues to delays in government funding. In a statement, management noted that the timely payment of staff salaries, promised by the 28th of each month, depends on the availability of government subsidies, which have no fixed payment schedule.
“Management would only be able to carry out such a promise contingent on the availability of Government Subvention, which has no specific date of payment,” the statement read.
The funding shortfall has ripple effects, limiting the university’s ability to address critical infrastructure and resource needs. The lack of reliable financial support has strained operations, leaving staff and students bearing the brunt of systemic inefficiencies.
The upcoming strike has sparked broader conversations about the state of higher education in the country, barely two weeks after President Barrow officially inaugurated the new university complex. Students and staff argue that the government must prioritize education funding to ensure institutions like USET can deliver on their mandates. The university, renowned for its emphasis on applied sciences and engineering, plays a pivotal role in training the next generation of professionals. Resolving these issues is a matter of national importance.
As the strike looms, the Kanifing campus braces for potential disruptions. Students like Gibba remain resolute, viewing the action as a necessary step to demand accountability. “We’re not just fighting for ourselves but for the future of education here,” he said. “If these issues aren’t addressed, the quality of our degrees and our ability to compete in the job market will suffer.”
The university administration has called for dialogue to resolve the grievances, but with the strike set to begin tomorrow, time is running short. Both sides are under pressure to find a solution that addresses the immediate concerns while tackling the underlying funding challenges.
Observers note that the situation at USET reflects broader challenges facing public institutions in the country, where budget constraints and bureaucratic delays often undermine educational quality. The outcome of the strike could set a precedent for how similar disputes are handled, with implications for students, staff, and policymakers.
As the July 2 deadline approaches, all eyes are on Kanifing. The SWA-USET’s sit-down strike is poised to highlight the urgent need for systemic reform in higher education. Whether the government and university management can act swiftly to address these concerns remains to be seen, but for now, students and staff are prepared to make their voices heard.
