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UZ
fees up again
Bridget
Sibanda,The Independent (Zimbabwe)
June 16, 2006
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/viewinfo.cfm?linkid=11&id=3969
THE University
of Zimbabwe has increased fees by between 90-100%, pushing up the
figure to be paid for next semester beginning in August to around
$200 million.
The latest increase means that the fees will jump from the current
$90 million a year to between $150 million and $200 million per
semester depending on the degree programme.
State universities throughout the country are also expected to increase
fees as government is mulling to cede the paying of lecturers’ and
staff salaries to universities and not the fiscus.
The increment was announced on Tuesday last week, the same day a
Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Education, Sport and Culture
chaired by Fidelis Mhashu, the MDC legislator for Seke, tabled its
findings after touring Midlands
State University, Mkoba and Hillside Teachers colleges, Bulawayo
Polytechnic and several other higher institutions nationwide.
The tour was meant to assess the situation on the campuses and to
get the side of students and the staff on the problems they are
facing. It was mainly prompted by complaints from students and parents
after the government raised fees at tertiary institutions by more
than 500% in February.
"Our findings were that students are struggling to raise the
required fees and actually many dropped out of college. We recommend
that government also raise the grants that are given to students
so that they tally with the fees they are to pay," Mhashu said.
"State grants to students fall far short of what they are to
pay as tuition and accommodation fees."
Currently, students from universities are given $13 million a semester
as grants yet they are expected to pay between $28 million and $90
million a semester depending on what degree programme they are studying
for.
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