The Sunday Mail
Lea Mutanda
Universities have recorded a massive improvement in the number of students who paid their tuition fees on time despite a sharp increase in the amounts, it has been learnt.
The development comes at a time Government, through the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, set university fees between $3 500 and $5 000 per semester depending on the programme.
University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Mapfumo said the number of students who had fully paid tuition fees on time was “amazing”.
“We are quite aware and conscious about the debate that is currently circulating in the media. Students are complaining that the fees required by the universities are too high and they cannot afford it, but to my understanding our students have paid all the required fees in time,” he said.
“We have not encountered any deferments, in fact the number of students who have registered on time has amazingly improved compared to the past three or four years.”
Last month Treasury released a total of $6 million to each State university to subsidise student tuition fees as well as the institutions’ daily operations.
The money is intended to help the higher learning institutions to moderate their fees structures.
Professor Mapfumo said students who were having problems with paying fees were referred to banks to apply for loans.
Great Zimbabwe University Vice Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo said there was normalcy at the institution.
“There were controversial issues circulating in the media about students and the fees hike,” he said.
“We cannot say that the issue has affected our institution because business is normal and students are paying their tuition fees as always without any complaints.
“l have not signed any deferment forms and l hope it continues like that because, for our students, we give them a longer window period to apply for loans and look for money before we start penalising them.”
Midlands State University Vice Chancellor Professor Victor Muzvidziwa also said all was well at the academic institution.
