By Lloyd Takawira
The recent university fees increases by a whopping 250% by various universities, has irked students with Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) saying the fees hikes are unjustified and beyond the reach of many.
Almost all state universities announced their new fees structures which will see students paying between $25 000 and $40 000 per semester up from an average of fee of $10 000.
In an interview with Bustop TV on the sidelines of the recent fees hikes, the biggest students representative union Zinasu issued a statement saying the fees are exorbitant and unaffordable to the already struggling parents.
“The recent fees hikes exacerbate the already prevailing bourgeoise tertiary education system in Zimbabwe. Our constitution mandates the government to provide ease access to tertiary education and also affordable education. So with current fees hikes this deters students to have access to affordable education.”
The union bemoaned the fees hike citing the deteriorating economy coupled with the covid-19 induced lockdown as burdensome making most parents not able to afford the fees.
“As ZINASU we believe that students welfare should be included in the cost of tertiary education. The deteriorating economy the cost of living for students before talking about fees its very high. Students welfare like accommodation, transport, food and health system need to be recognized. “read the statement.
The students also said that government should gazette university fees proportional with civil servants salaries.
” We therefore recommend the government to review the fees hikes for they highlight barbaric principles and norms of privatized education system. State owned tertiary instructions fees and students cost of living should be in proportional with civil servants salaries to fully understand the dilemma students and parents are facing during this dwindling economy which is also exacerbated by the virulent covid-19 pandemic.”
The union said the fees hikes will have many ripple effects on the lives of many students especially the girl child who might even be forced into prostitution.
“So yes we do not welcome the fees hikes for they deter the recognition of the right to accessible and affordable education. Fees hikes have a detrimental effect to the lifestyle of students like prostitution and drug abuse”. said Zinasu.
Some students who spoke to this reporter decried the new fees structure, saying it was pushing tertiary education out of the reach of many.
Presley Jambwa a student at Harare Institute of Technology had this to say :
“My parents are vendors . How on earth am l going to get the ZW$30 000 . The fees are too much.”
Another student Belinda Hanzi an accounting student at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) had this to say :
“The fees are too much beyond the reach of many of us . In our family it’s even worse . l have a young brother who is going to form 1and you can imagine the money that is required . I’m in need of fees , accommodation and other basic anemities .At least they should have been considerate of our plight.”
Another student Tanaka Mupumha from Midlands State University had this to say :
” Coming from the hard lockdown which meant that most parents could not sufficiently prepare, government was not supposed to allow such an idea . Fees should fall”.
Given Nhamburo a Human Resources Management student from Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) described the recent fees hikes as mind-blowing and inconsiderate.
“Imagine my parents are civil servants whose earnings combined cannot even cater for my semester. Government should intervene in this madness”.
Speaking to the media GZU student representative leader Spencer Masuku, called upon government to implement a flexible fees payment plan to prevent most of them from deferring their studies following the fee increases.
‘‘We appeal to government to implement payment plans for students, to prevent most students from deferring their studies as most of our parents do not afford such exorbitant amounts of money.
Speaking to the media GZU student representative leader Spencer Masuku, called upon Government to implement a flexible fees payment plan to prevent most of them from deferring their studies following the fee increases.
‘‘We appeal to government to implement payment plans for students, to prevent most students from deferring their studies as most of our parents do not get much, therefore it becomes hard for them to pay the fees at once,” he said.
Some parents who spoke to this reporter said that government should intervene as many people are still reeling from the the covid-19 pandemic induced after effects.
Mrs Shambare who says she has a son who is a student at Chinhoyi University had this to say:
“l sell second hand clothes (mabhero) ende huye ndamerera mwanangu nema fees aya . vanoda tidii nhai chokwadi . ikozvino vamwe tanga takavharirwa , now kutosumuka uku . mari yacho kunze hakuna“.
Some fees structures gleaned by this reporter shows that students at the Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU), Undergraduates will pay $24 000, Postgraduate $34 000, Masters $49 000 and PhDs $120 000.
For students at National University of Science and Technology (Nust), fees has been pegged at $32 000 for undergraduate, Postgraduate $34 000 and Masters degree $45 000.
At Great Zimbabwe University (GZU), Undergraduates will pay between $25 960 and $30 060, Postgraduates from $34 445 to $39 655, Masters’ students will fork out between $37 750 and $44 045 while PhDs will pay from $45 000 up to $57 000.
Speaking to state media Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Development, Professor Amon Murwira said the new fees approved are justified given the need to capacitate Universities.
‘‘Universities brought their fees adjustments proposals and as the Ministry, through all consultation processes, we approved the fees proposals in February.
“The fees revision committee for universities discuss the fees adjustments and submits to the Ministry for approval, the Ministry does not direct fees hike. It’s either we disagree or agree. Our adjustments are based on set processes,’’ he said.
Given the prevailing economic situation obtaining in the country coupled with the lockdown shocks, many students will fail to return to school .
The country went into lockdown at the beginning of the year after a tumultuous 2020 .
