Introduction
University students in Zimbabwe are under a severe predicament of servitude under the guise of attachment. Most companies are thriving as a result of the tremendous effort of these students who are subjected to work without pay for a certain period so as to finish their “work related learning”. This article communicates the plight of University students during attachment particularly those in Zimbabwe.
Understanding of Attachment
Attachment refers to the process by which a tertiary student is given the opportunity to apply classroom theory to real-world fieldwork. In most cases, students that experience attachment are enrolled in tertiary institutions and pursuing a diploma, professional certificate, or bachelor’s degree. These tertiary institutions include vocational schools, polytechnics, colleges, and universities, among others. During the attachment phase, a student is obligated to spend a set number of days working for a supervisor. The work supervisor serves as both advisor and teacher. He or she grades the student once the attachment has been successfully completed. The amount of time a student spends on attachment varies according to the institution and the certification for which the student is studying. The student is required to work in a field related to their program of study during attachment. The main reason for this is to give the student practical learning and the experience of a work environment. Another alternative term for attachment is internship.
The plight of Zimbabwean Students Under Attachment or Internship
Numerous Zimbabwean tertiary students are subjected to exploitation during attachment. This is typical of developing nations. Many corporations and companies take advantage of students seeking attachment by using them as cheap labor. One of the main reasons for this exploitation is the fact that jobs are scarce in developing nations. This means getting an attachment is even twice as difficult. Due to this reason, tertiary students are left desperate for employment. Upon getting this employment, they are given the mentality that they do not deserve remuneration for their work as getting employment is enough.
Female students in Zimbabwe are the most affected and disadvantaged. There have been numerous cases of female students being subjected to sexual harassment during attachment. Some students are forced to exchange sex for employment. High poverty levels also contribute to this dire situation. Most students under attachment are poor due to the fact that they are not remunerated. Some employees take advantage of this by violating female students in exchange for lunch money and transport allowance.
Conclusion
Attachment is an important component of the learning and development of tertiary students. However, in developing nations such as Zimbabwe, it is being used as a weapon against the students. This is because students are subjected to numerous kinds of abuse by their employees.
