Windhoek
Students from the Institute of Bankers (IOB) are unhappy with the management style of the CEO of IOB, John-Day Mandey, and have threatened to stage a demonstration to demand his immediate removal.
They are accusing Mandey of running the institution as a one-man show with no consideration of the students and staff’s interests. It is alleged Mandey does not listen to students’ grievances nor does he communicate with fellow staff members.
Mandey who the students termed “Mr Pass-By” because he does not talk to anyone and only walks by is accused of not holding a graduation ceremony since 2013, and not giving them opportunities to do internships with local banks.
The Student Representative Council (SRC) president Simson Nangolo told New Era they are fed up with Mandey’s autocratic management as he does not listen to anyone, adding that he seems to view the institution as a business and therefore no one can give him orders on how to run his business.
“There has been no graduation since Dr Gift Kavari’s term ended. The CEO does not want to organize graduation ceremonies as he says venues are too expensive and the institution has too many students – what about the tuition fees we are paying? We are not paying it for free, students want to be honoured for their hard work,” said an upset Nangolo.
He once dissolved the SRC committee and its constitution after he took over, said Nangolo.
“He (Mandey) used to refuse to talk to anybody, however later he decided to reinstate the SRC committee as a way to engage with him, but he never listens to us no matter how we try. We have been sending him emails, letters and setting up appointments to meet with him but nothing happens and he never attends to our requests,” elaborated Nangolo who questioned what kind of person is Mandey to be so hard-headed.
The demonstration is slated for May 21 – if the CEO does not attend to the demands of students and those of other disgruntled staff members.
This will mark the second demonstration to be held at the institution with one been held two months ago when the students expressed similar sentiments towards Mandey.
“This time we will not let him run away with it,” stated Nangolo.
Efforts to get comment from Mandey proved futile, however New Era was reliably informed that Mandey had travelled abroad and no light was shed on his date of return.
Contacted for comment the student administrator Georgina Subeb said: “I cannot comment on this matter, I am sick and I don’t have the strength to talk.”