Patricia Moyo
STUDENTS at Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) have expressed concern over the current fees hikes, with many expressing that this move is most likely to deprive them of their right to affordable education.
The state owned institute of higher learning, GZU, located in the ancient town of Masvingo, recently hiked their fees structures from between US$570 to US$746.
Fees are being elevated every semester.
Many students are facing financial challenges and the sudden increase in fees has added undue stress to their already strained budgets.
The students have voiced their concerns through protests highlighting the impact of the fee hike on their ability to continue with their education.
The issue of fee hikes affects all institutions, from schools to universities, and has far-reaching consequences on students, parents, and the education system as a whole.
When fees are increased, it puts additional financial burden on families, making education less accessible to those from lower-income backgrounds.
This can lead to a decrease in enrollment rates and widen the gap in educational opportunities between different socioeconomic groups.
Many parents with students at Zimbabwe’s several Universities are suffering from decreased incomes due to unemployment and many of those who are working are paid partly in the local currency which has lost almost all its value.
Student Representative Committee of Great Zimbabwe University expressed concern at the recent increase.
“Fees hikes can place an increased financial burden on students and their families. It has a plethora of effects upon students.”
“Potentially fees hikes lead to inequality and discrimination. Fees hikes create barriers to access for students from low-income backgrounds or marginalized communities since our parents are civil servants they earn RTGS and it cannot afford to purchase a bar of soap.”
It disturbs student mentally and financially. One of the major effects is the escalating drug and substance abuse which is affecting students nationally. More so, it has led to the spread of STIs within campus as young females and males fall prey to older men and females who would abuse and infect other students within campuses,” said Biotumelo Tlou GZU treasurer.
Students are crying loud for this issue of hiking fees.
“As a student in Zimbabwe, I’ve found that the fees hike has been extremely difficult to manage. Many students, including myself, come from families where the parents are civil servants and the low salaries they receive are barely enough to cover basic needs, let alone the cost of university education.
The high fees combined with the economic challenges in the country are making it nearly impossible for students to afford their education. This means that many students are having to defer their studies, which is causing a delay in them completing their degrees and is costing them time and money,” said Tinashe Ruguva, a student from Great Zimbabwe University.
“However I feel that more needs have to be done to support students and to make education more affordable and accessible in Zimbabwe. This could include things like government subsidies, grants, or scholarships for students from low income backgrounds, or more flexible payment plans.”
The students are insisting university to make programs accessibly to students so that they will finish degrees on time without money problem.
“In the meantime, I urge universities to find ways to make their programs more affordable so that students can complete their degrees on time and start their careers.
This issue is not only affecting individual students, but it’s also having a negative impact on the country’s development and future. We need to find solutions so that our students can thrive and succeed,” he concluded.
It is therefore imperative for universities to consider the impact of fee hikes on students and work towards finding solutions to ensure that all students have equal opportunities to access quality education.
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