Natalie Sindile Nyathi
The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) Student Representative Council (SRC) has announced a reverse in the Institution’ s fees structure .
The SRC President Muziwenkosi Sigidi-Moyo last week released a press statement expressing utter disgust and disappointment at the NUST Administration following an increase of approximately 200%, from the ZWL$ 284 700 for Faculty of Applied Science to US$720 and US$ 770 for Faculty of Medicine, ZWL$ 240 500 for Faculty of Commerce to US$600, ZWL$ 280 500 for Faculty of Communication and Information Science to US$670.
Below is the press statement that was released last week by the NUST SRC :
“It is with much disgust and disappointment that l write this letter after realising how disrespectful and incosiderate our administration can be. The new fees structure is unjustified, and there was absolutely no consultation of the student leaders in the process”
“We had a meeting early this month in which clearly denied the increase and they went ahead to officiate the increase without agreement between the SRC and University Management”
“ln their initial bid to hike the fees, the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education clearly directed the University not to hike any fees and they came back with an idea to change the current fees at a January 2021 interbank rate of US$1:ZWL 100 which we again vehemently denied based on the fact that we were supposed to work with the results of the 63rd Fees Review Meeting that was held between the previous SRC in which it was suggested by some of the FRC Committee members to peg the fees in USD. However, we could not reach an age as they wanted to nicodemously use the 62nd Fees Review Meeting outcome”
“Education is a constitutional right as enshrined in the Constitution in Section. The University, being a State Institution, should not thus privatize education by hiking fees exorbitantly. The new fees structure will thus push a number of students out of school in the process stripping us of tomorrow’s expertise”
“This is the second time we experience a fees increase in a single academic year and we are not going to silently let it slide”
“Be that as it stands, we give the university an ultimatum of 24 hours to rectify the error or we respond with student action and open a court case against them for unreasonably taking advantage of students by unjustifiably hiking fees. We therefore call for the students to brace up for necessary action if need be. We are the major clientele and we deserve respect, our silence won’t save us here, we need to get our voices heard and fight this injustice by all means”
“It is our continued struggle as your SRC to fight for your academic freedoms. It is therefore our joint responsibility as students to put an end to this continuous unprofessional ism”
And true to it’s word, the NUST SRC has put an end to this unprofessional-ism as the recently hiked fees have been revoked.
After the stay away call by the SRC for students to stay away from University premises, the SRC had a meeting with the NUST Management and the end results were favorable to students.
“We are happy to inform you that the recently hiked fees of US$720 have been revoked and removed from your portals. Students will now continue to pay the present ZWL fees structure adopted in September 2022”, said Sigidi.
He also encouraged students to pay fees at last semester ‘s rate and register. In order to preserve the value of finances, the same fees will be pegged at the prevailing interbank rate.
Meanwhile, the USD fees structure will be taken down and replaced with last semester’s updated ZWL fees structure.