Student unions have dismissed the directive from the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education instructing state tertiary colleges and universities to allow students with outstanding fees to write their exams. The unions allege that the directive is just cheap politicking ahead of next year’s harmonized elections. The unions have challenged the Ministry to amend Statutory Instrument 81 of 1999 if it is serious about allowing students to make payment plans.
Zivai Mhetu of Zinsasu said:
Statutory instrument 81 of 1999 which governs payment of fees by students in polytechnics and teachers’ colleges clearly states that fees should be paid before opening of schools or within seven days after opening
…As long as the statutory instrument is phrased in this manner, many tertiary institutions will disregard the call from the ministry to accept payment plans because there is no provision for payment plans in the legal framework that governs payment of fees.
Zinasu calls on the ministry to amend the statutory instrument in a way that makes payment plans legally permissible.
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