Varsity dropouts must pay up too

Celebrations over the non-registration fees for students at the University of Namibia following protest dubbed #VarsityLockdown earlier this year may have been short-lived, as the University of Namibia is now seeking its dues with registered students owing the institution N$255 million.
Unam has vowed not to allow students who are in debt to write their upcoming examinations. Registered students are not the only ones Unam is gunning for; the institution is also taking those who dropped out without finishing their qualifications to debt collectors.
University dropouts owe the university about N$50 million. Earlier this year, Unam lowered the fees payable at registration from N$3 500 to N$1 500. This, coupled with confusing statements from the Ministry of Higher Education, led to many believing that a section of the fees were scrapped.
Unam spokesperson John Haufiku told Namibian Sun this week that the notice put up by the university regarding outstanding fees was not a scare tactic.
He said the university was strict and would not allow any student to sit for examination while owing the institution.
Haufiku said students were asked to settle what they owe for the first semester in May, and are now required to settle all debt before the year end examinations.
“We’ve made it clear that this year, it’s different. We explained that because of events of this year, the student intake this year is much higher than before. This year, debt stands at N$255 million for registered students, and doesn’t include those who dropped out,” Haufiku said. Earlier this year, many also complained that impression was given by the Higher Education Ministry that student debt had been written off or that that what many believed to be registration fees had been written off.
“It’s all fees that must be paid, it’s not about a distinction between whether its registration fees and tuition fees, all fees must be paid. The fees have remained the same, they have never been reduced,” Haufiku said. Higher Education permanent secretary Alfred van Kent said the ministry will only respond to the questions posed by Namibian Sun after consulting.
Namibian Sun asked what the ministry has done to compensate for Unam and the Namibia University of Science and Technology financial losses, since instructing the two institutions to register students for the academic year.

GORDON JOSEPH