MULUNGUSHI TO SET EXAMS DATES FOR STUDENTS NOT PAID UP

By NAMO PHIRI STUDENTS at Mulungushi University owing at least 80 percent in fees will not be allowed to write deferred examinations, Ministry of Higher Education Permanent Secretary Kayula Siame has said. Ms Siame said the ministry engaged the university management after complaints from some students and sponsors regarding the institution’s refusal to allow students who have not paid at least 80 percent of their tuition fees to sit for these sessional examinations. She said in a statement that the sessional exams would proceed as scheduled for the next two weeks only for students who had paid at least 80 percent of the fees in line with the university’s policy. “As regards those who would have not paid at least 80 percent of the fees before commencement of exam, management will allow them to write deferred exams on dates to be determined by the University Senate,” said Ms Siame. She said the flexibility would allow the few affected students time to pay the outstanding fees. Ms Siame said students who may have financial resources to pay now but were holding back were encouraged to pay up so that their studies were not inconvenienced by being deferred. She urged parents, guardians and sponsors of students at the university to take advantage of the flexible payment plans that it has put in place that allow for fees to paid over a period of time to avoid disturbing the students as far as examinations are concerned. “It is important for all stakeholders to further note that university budgets are largely financed through the fees that students pay. Inability by the sponsors of the students to pay the fees on time has the potential to compromise the quality of the education service being provided by public universities,” said Ms Siame.