Govt orders colleges not to bar students from learning over fees

The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education has instructed learning institutions not to turn away students over unpaid fees.

In a statement Higher and Tertiary Education ministry secretary Machivenyika Mapuranga that his ministry is directing all institutions to allow students to write their examinations, but withhold results until all outstanding fees are paid. He also clarified that students in State polytechnics and teacher’s colleges should pay fees before opening of each term or within seven days after opening school as governed by Statutory Instrument 81 of 1999. He also said that the owing student, parent or guardian and the institution can enter into mutually agreed payment plans.

The announcement comes at a time when several learning institutions are barring students from attending class over unpaid fees. Students from the Department of Teacher Education at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo College were turned away while students at Madziva Teacher’s College were last week barred from accessing halls of residence, lectures and entering the dining room over outstanding tuition.