UZ is sending home students who have failed to raise full tuition fees for the 2015 first semester.
Simbarashe Moyo, coordinator Zimbabwe Students Solidarity Trust, said the UZ should be awake to the constitution provision that it is every student’s right to access education.
“We wrote to the UZ urging them to let students with part fee payment to register for the semester studies. It was standard practice in the past for the institution to admit students with 60 percent of the required fees.
“This paradigm shift is unconstitutional, as it denies poor students access to education and should be reversed,” said Moyo.
When the UZ accepted an initial fees deposit of 60 percent, students would stagger payment of the balance.
Gilbert Mutubuki, president Zimbabwe National Students Union, castigated government for denying poor children access to education while pursuing less important pursuits.
Mutubuki said government was obliged to fund students’ education.
“If poor students are not assisted by government to access education they will be reduced to pawns and be abused by politicians like Chipangano.
“The falling economy is forcing girl students into prostitution to meet university and college expenses,” Mutubuki told The Zimbabwean.
If government continues to deny youth opportunities, Mutubuki said, students will resort to mass protests to demand educational opportunities and other space.
According to Mutubuki, undergraduate studies are basic education which should be funded by government.
On the dates of the mass protests, Mutubuki refused to give more details but assured that they will take place as planned.
Sources at the UZ revealed that there was low student activities at the institution as most of the students were sent home.
Nqobile Moyo, founder and chairman of Voices in the Vision for Africa, said youths should be availed the opportunity to pursue their academic and professional studies without any hindrance.
“This is the opportune time to prepare the future which should not be missed by youths.
“Government is aware of the needs of youths as we presented them with the blue print and what is left is the implementation part of it,” said Moyo, calling youth from across the political divide to pursue common pursuits in a non partisan manner.
Grace Chirenje, director of Zimbabwe Young Women Network for Peace Building said women were struggling to benefit and come to terms with what government describes as pro-poor policies, as the situation on the ground suggested otherwise.
She expressed concern at government priorities and budget which remained “pro-army at a time the country was not at war.”
Chirenje said it was time her constituency and other youths had their fair share of the cake.
“I strongly believe that patriotic youths should be bold and courageous enough to say enough is enough and take Zimbabwe to the next stage,” Chirenje said, without elaborating.
Efforts to get comment from the UZ were fruitless as the administration referred The Zimbabwean to Levi Martin Nyagura, UZ vice chancellor whose mobile was not reachable days on end.
Fees at the UZ for most faculties would range between US470 dollars to US750 dollars for non-residents and resident students respectively.
The fees would vary according to courses.
Post published in: News