AS a student of AIMST University, I am proud of this institution of higher learning. It has great facilities, lecturers and deans. Kudos to the teaching staff who are doing a good job. I have no qualms about the quality and affordability of the education services. In fact, it is probably the only reason for me to continue my education here.

However, AIMST has to buck up on certain issues.

I stay at the hostel and I must say that AIMST should hire better caterers. The food needs drastic improvement. This is a university offering courses in medicine, science and technology. Therefore, the management should know better than to serve us excessively oily, salty and spicy food.

I understand the need to serve spicy food to accommodate the majority of the students. But would it be too much to ask the caterers to serve a greater variety of quality food? They should know that porridge with bits of fish, peanuts, long beans and omelette for dinner is not going to be enough, especially for growing young men.

Very often, students are disappointed by the quality of the food, but we do not have a choice because we have paid for the food as part of our hostel fees. Plus, most students are required to stay at the hostel for three years. By the end of the three years, I would not be surprised if students suffer from health problems as a result of the food served in the hostel.

Another issue I would like to bring up is the excuses and false promises given to students. Students are asked to come back later for mail collection for no apparent reason.

We were also told that food stalls would be set up, instead of the current system of food from caterers, but that never took place.

In addition, students are charged different rates for different types of hostel. I was told that the ones paying more are allowed to buy their own refrigerators.

I pay less for my hostel fees. But my hostel can accommodate 12 students so we pay more collectively than the students who are staying at the more expensive three-person hostels. And yet, we are not allowed to have a refrigerator, which is a necessity.

J.W.X.Y, Bedong, Kedah

Source: NST – February 10, 2009