UTech extends fee payment deadline after protest by students Friday, September 26, 2014

SCORES of University of Technology (UTech) students yesterday staged a demonstration at the institution's campus in Papine to protest against the current payment policy for tuition fees as well as 'poor' facilities.

UTECH students demonstrating outside gate 

The placard-bearing students, several of whom were dressed in black, gathered at the front of the school from as early as 9:00 am to raise their concerns.

"What is happening is a peaceful student demonstration in light of some injustice that we have been facing as students since the start of academic year," said Delta Wright, president of the UTech Students' Union.

Wright said the Student Council, which is the governing body for the union, has been in dialogue with the university administration about the issues but they were yet to be addressed.

The university's fee payment option, she said, required that 80 per cent of tuition fees be paid by September 30, after which a

late- payment fee would be applied.

"... The changes were communicated [to us] late... which has seriously hampered the students' plans," said Wright.

The university's acting president, Burchell Whiteman, who met with representatives of the union after the protest, said steps would be taken to deal with all the concerns.

The acting president said that arising from the meeting a decision was taken to maintain the 80:20 ratio arrangement of a minimum of 80 per cent of the total tuition cost for modules selected. more