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Students protest UZ tuition fee hike
15 Jul 2016 at 15:24hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe National Students' Union (Zinasu) has criticised the University of Zimbabwe (UZ)'s decision to hike tuition fees starting next semester.
In a statement, Zinasu spokesperson Zivai Mhetu, said the decision to increase fees from $400 to $450 was "unacceptable".
"Why raise school fees when there has been no upsurge in the price of commodities?" Mhetu queried.
Zinasu also questioned the rationale behind hiking fees, when the country has "extremely low levels of inflation but a very high percentage of low income earners who constitute the bulk of parents of students in State institutions such as UZ."
In April, Zinasu said at least 12 000 students had dropped out of tertiary institutions due to a debilitating economic crisis.
Mhetu said UZ is a public institution that is supposed to cater for the underprivileged and must come up with relaxed payment plans.
"Even those who are fortunate enough to get their moneys on time are earning way below the poverty datum line. This is just how the country is at the moment.
"The UZ administration should stop acting as if it is unaware of our economic situation and adjust its policies to the realities on the ground," he said.
He further said that students with no money to pay fees must be allowed to continue with their studies.
"If they fail to clear all their arrears before graduation, institutions can withhold their certificates till they are fully paid up," Mhetu said, further castigating the amount of money being demanded for one to secure accommodation on campus.
"If anything, the UZ should be bringing down accommodation fees because a room that used to take two students is now taking four because of the bunk beds they recently introduced.
"The UZ administration is proving beyond reasonable doubt that it is insensitive to the plight of students and is unfazed by the insurmountable economic challenges we are facing," Mhetu said.
University administrators claim that if students cannot meet the new fees, standards could fall, with the government having to resort to subsidies it says it can ill-afford.
Universities say it has been expensive for institutions to afford library books, journals and electronic research equipment that are paid for in dollars.
In a statement, Zinasu spokesperson Zivai Mhetu, said the decision to increase fees from $400 to $450 was "unacceptable".
"Why raise school fees when there has been no upsurge in the price of commodities?" Mhetu queried.
Zinasu also questioned the rationale behind hiking fees, when the country has "extremely low levels of inflation but a very high percentage of low income earners who constitute the bulk of parents of students in State institutions such as UZ."
In April, Zinasu said at least 12 000 students had dropped out of tertiary institutions due to a debilitating economic crisis.
Mhetu said UZ is a public institution that is supposed to cater for the underprivileged and must come up with relaxed payment plans.
"Even those who are fortunate enough to get their moneys on time are earning way below the poverty datum line. This is just how the country is at the moment.
"The UZ administration should stop acting as if it is unaware of our economic situation and adjust its policies to the realities on the ground," he said.
He further said that students with no money to pay fees must be allowed to continue with their studies.
"If they fail to clear all their arrears before graduation, institutions can withhold their certificates till they are fully paid up," Mhetu said, further castigating the amount of money being demanded for one to secure accommodation on campus.
"If anything, the UZ should be bringing down accommodation fees because a room that used to take two students is now taking four because of the bunk beds they recently introduced.
"The UZ administration is proving beyond reasonable doubt that it is insensitive to the plight of students and is unfazed by the insurmountable economic challenges we are facing," Mhetu said.
University administrators claim that if students cannot meet the new fees, standards could fall, with the government having to resort to subsidies it says it can ill-afford.
Universities say it has been expensive for institutions to afford library books, journals and electronic research equipment that are paid for in dollars.
Source - dailynews
