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Education Watch: Week ending 10 July 2009
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU)
July 30, 2009

Mutare Polytechnic College

Students at Mutare Polytechnic College have been requested to pay USD10 as registration fee and USD30 as center fee for the final year examinations scheduled for November 2009. The fees are exclusive of the tuition fees of USD300 they paid at the beginning of the term in May 2009. A notice circulated at the college with a deadline of 10 July that is today and as at 12pm less than 45% of the total students had managed to pay. The Principal announced that students who fail to pay in time should approach his office and ask for an extension to pay the stipulated fees. It is worrisome to note that students continue bearing the burden of footing their education, without the assistance of the Government, which has the responsibility of providing quality education to all. Full time students are discontent over the USD150 they are required to pay to gain access to the library facilities, compared to external students who are paying USD5. Authorities introduced these charges so as to pay disgruntled lecturers. This move has increased financial burden on the students who are struggling to pay tuition fees.

Seke Teachers College

Lecturers at Seke Teachers College have not been reporting for duty since Monday 6 July 2009 demanding salary increments from the stipulated meager allowances of USD100.The Vice Principal Mr. Matawire announced on Monday that they will deduct 30% from the UDS150 tuition fees paid by the students in order to entice lecturers. It is disheartening for college authorities to shoulder the burden on students who are struggling to pay the fees. The lecturers in turn have resorted to a "no receipt no lecture" practice in order to ensure that they get their salaries from the fees. The main library at the college was closed on Wednesday with library staff also demanding salary increments after College authorities assured lecturers of salary increase thus leaving students with no access to library facilities.

Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT)

End of semester examinations commenced at CUT on Monday 6 July and are expected to end on the 17th of July 2009. College authorities report that all is set for the examination with adequate examination materials. All faculties managed to finish their course outlines before the start of the examinations and most students have already submitted their course work. The administration proclaimed that all students at the institution will sit for the examinations but results will only be availed to students who would have paid the full tuition fees of USD405.

University of Zimbabwe (UZ)

The institution is expected to open in August 2009 after it failed to open twice in 2009. A lot of issues deterred the oldest and largest institution in Zimbabwe from operating. Among the issues are the failure by students to pay the exorbitant fees, low staff turnover and poor sanitation.

Midlands State University (MSU)

College authorities introduced a "crush" programme to compensate for the time the college failed to open last year in August 2008. The students who were affected started lectures on the 15th of June and are expected to write end of semester examinations from the 20th to the 24th of July 2009.

Partner Organizations: SAYWHAT

The organization held a peer educators training workshop on the 4th to the 5th of June 2009.The meeting was meant to train peer educators from different tertiary institutions on HIV/AIDS related issues who will then offer counseling services to other students in their respective institutions. The training was attended by 35 students drawn from colleges countrywide.

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