This week's issues
| Zim students to boycott classes over high fees |
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| Written by Zimonline |
| Wednesday, 09 September 2009 09:40 |
 BULAWAYO - Zimbabwe university and college students will tomorrow begin boycotting classes to pressure education authorities to slash high tuition fees charged at tertiary institutions, in another setback to government efforts to restore order in the country's education sector."We have been at all state colleges and universities countrywide, drumming up support from the students ahead of the nationwide demonstrations that start on Wednesday," Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) president Clever Bere said on Monday. "As ZINASU, we are saying a big no to the privatisation of education, we are saying we can't have our colleagues being forced to drop studies because of lack of fees," he added, noting that the protests will be held under the banner - National Campaign Against the Privatisation of Education in Zimbabwe (NACAPEZ). The class boycotts will further pile pressure on the government that is battling to convince teachers to call off a strike action over pay that has entered its second week. A number of university and college students have been forced to drop studies due to high tuition fees ranging from anything between US$450 to US$1 200, depending on the diploma or degree programme. Higher Education Minister Stan Mudenge could not be reached for comment. However, Bere added: "The class boycotts will not end until the government revises downwards the exorbitant and extortionist fees regime in the country." Tuition fees levied at universities and colleges have been criticised in light of the meagre salaries earned by the majority of Zimbabwe's workforce. The country's largest employer - the Public Service Commission which employees all civil servants - pays its workers between US$155 and US$200 depending on grade. Government has defended the fee structure saying it was necessary to lift education standards - once hailed as one of the best in sub-Saharan Africa - that had been on a free-fall over the past decade. Zimbabwe's power-sharing government between Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe has promised to revive the economy and restore basic services such as health and education that had virtually collapsed after years of recession. While schools and hospitals have reopened, the failure by the unity government - which says it requires a total US$10 billion to get Zimbabwe on its feet again - to convince rich Western nations to release grants and soft loans has hampered its ability to sustain the recovery effort. Teachers began a crippling nationwide strike last week to press the government to increase salaries and improve working conditions while public doctors only called off a two-week strike for more pay last week, responding to a call by Tsvangirai to return to work while the government scrounges around for funds to meet their demands. Western governments insist they will not provide support until they see evidence President Robert Mugabe is committed to genuinely sharing power with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. |
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