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Petition
to the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Hon. Stan Mudenge
Zimbabwe
National Students Union (ZINASU)
September 15, 2009
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We the students
from Zimbabwe's institutions of higher learning,
Recalling the
historic inception of the inclusive government on the 13th of February
2009, this brought about a stable political environment, conducive
for the recovery of the economy and education in particular.
Considering
the Short
Term Emergency Recovery Programme (STERP), unveiled on 19 March
2009, where the inclusive government placed education at the centre
of its economic and social policies. Also considering the undertaking
that the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education made in the Second
hundred day plan to improve the education sector by the 26th of
August 2009.
Realising the
static ramshackle state of higher education, seven months after
the formation of the inclusive government, and that developments
proposed to be done on paper have not yet been implemented on the
ground.
We hereby bring
to the attention of the Honourable Minister of Higher and Tertiary
Education Dr Stan Mudenge, the following issues:
Tuition
and accommodation fees
- Tuition fees
in Universities are ranging from USD400 to USD700, in Poly-technic
and teachers colleges they are ranging from USD150 to USD 400.
These fees are exorbitant and beyond the reach of the majority
who are supported by peasants and civil servants. Students who
cannot afford the fees are being deferred in almost all institutions
such as NUST and GZU. The cadetship scheme which is meant to cushion
those who cannot afford to pay fees has not yet assisted students,
as it is reportedly said that government has no money.
- Accommodation
fees are ranging from USD300-USD600; these are also unaffordable
by the majority. Physical accessibility to institutions of higher
learning is a right of every student thus the need to make campus
accommodation affordable by all.
- Students
at Teachers and Poly-technic colleges are required to pay centre
fees before sitting for examinations which is unreasonable as
they are registered students at those institutions. Centre fees
have always been charged to external students.
- Student
teachers are receiving a poultry allowance of USD... during Teaching
Practice, which is far below the poverty datum line and cannot
sustain them; furthermore they are required to pay tuition fees.
Students at Morgenster Teachers College were forced to return
for teaching practice after they failed to pay assessment fees
of USD120.
Academic
freedoms
- Restrictive
laws are still being used against students for example the University
of Zimbabwe Act, which allows for the dissolution of the students
union by the Vice Chancellor and the suspension of student leaders.
Disciplinary committees are not respecting the students'
right to a fair hearing within a reasonable time. There is no
adequate and clear protection of female and disabled students
by the laws and Ordinances. Institutions are failing to respect
and recognise the role of Student Representative Councils (SRC),
they are also not conducting SRC elections.
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