Govt reviews policy on fees for students on attachment

Government is seized with the request to scrap fees for students on industrial attachment, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has said.

Prof Moyo said tertiary institution administrators were instead demanding that students on industrial attachment pay more as assessing them was more expensive than on-campus training. Prof Moyo confirmed that engagement had started over whether students on attachment should pay tuition fees following an outcry from parents and guardians who are struggling to meet the costs of higher education.

There are reports of massive dropouts as students fail to raise the fees required by most institutions of higher learning.

Depending on the course, university fees range from $500 to $1 000 per semester, excluding accommodation and food costs, among other expenses Various students representative councils have petitioned the ministry, arguing that paying fees during industrial attachment was unjustified considering, that the students did not use college facilities or attend lectures.