According to the new payment system, students can pay amounts ranging between US$300 and $600 and will be able to attend lessons while they, their parents or guardians are raising more cash. The Bulawayo-based university had previously demanded fees in full with students unable to cough op the full amount barred from attending lessons. University director of information and publicity Felix Moyo said: We are aware that things are hard for the students and we believe that this new system we have put in place will ease the burden on parents and guardians.
A student at the NUST, Anele Mthunzi, praised authorities for introducing the staggered payment system which he said had been well received by students. He said: The University has staggered the payment of our fees over three months. It is an arrangement which we as students are happy about. Even our parents can then be given time to look for the money. Some of us did not learn last year as we were failing to raise the fees. A number of university and college students across the country have been forced to drop studies due to high tuition fees ranging from anything between US$450 to US$1 200, depending on the diploma or degree programme.
Tuition fees levied at universities and colleges have been criticised in light of the meagre salaries earned by the majority of Zimbabwe’s workforce. The countrys largest employer the Public Service Commission which employees all civil servants pays its workers between US$155 and US$200 depending on grade. Government has defended the fee structure saying it was necessary to lift education standards once hailed as one of the best in sub-Saharan Africa that had been on a free-fall over the past decade.
Post published in: News