Zimbabwe university fees up 2000%

Zimbabwe university fees up 2000%

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By Staff Reporter

THE Zimbabwe government, which has waged a fierce war with private schools over fee hikes, has increased fees at state universities and colleges by between 300 and 2,000%, reports said.

A senior government official described the increases as reasonable, according to the official Sunday Mail newspaper.

But there will be fears some students, battling to survive in Zimbabwe’s hyperinflationary environment, could be forced to abandon their studies.

Hard-hit will be medical and veterinary students at state institutions, who will now be forced to pay 180,000 Zimbabwe dollars ($720) per year, up from Z$44,000.

Students at government-run industrial training centres will be forced to pay Z$42,000 per year, up from Z$2,000.

"The need to increase fees arises from the essence of maintaining quality higher and tertiary education and global competitiveness in terms of Zimbabwean academic standards," said Washington Mbizvo, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Higher Education.

"These increases in tuition fees, as illustrated, are comparatively reasonable to allow as many of those who qualify to have access to higher and tertiary education," Mbizvo added as he announced the new fees on Saturday.
At 1,281.1%, Zimbabwe’s inflation rate is the highest in the world. – DPA
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