No fees, no lectures for School of Mines students

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AT LEAST 400 students at the country’s premier mining education institution, Zimbabwe School of Mines (ZSM), were on Monday barred from attending lecturers

AT LEAST 400 students at the country’s premier mining education institution, Zimbabwe School of Mines (ZSM), were on Monday barred from attending lecturers due to non-payment of fees, a move likely to affect final year students due to sit for examinations soon.

Report by Nqobile Bhebhe

The mining school opened on Monday after it had closed in July to pave way for elections. However, returning first and third year students not funded by companies and had not paid their tuition were turned away. A notice was pasted at the main entrance, with security guards vetting students.

Tuition fees for third year students are pegged at $2 000 per semester while first year students pay $1 500. Several third year students expressed shock at the development, saying their studies had been seriously compromised as they were due for final examinations in October.

“We only found the school entrance locked with security guards waving a notice barring all non-paid up students from attending lectures,” an affected student who requested anonymity said. “As final year students, we are due for crucial examinations in October and in a few weeks’ time we are expected to submit our coursework.” Another student said what was worrying was that students funded by a mining firm (named supplied) were permitted to attend lectures despite not having paid.

The institution’s chief executive officer Dzingirai Tusai on Monday said affected students had had enough time to look for tuition fees. “There was a two-month break and that is enough for one to look for fees,” he said. “As an institution, we don’t discuss payment of fees with students, but with their sponsors. Our duty is to teach students.” Tusai said affected students should have made prior arrangements with the institution on payment plans.

He said representatives of How Mine and Wankie Colliery were yesterday making such arrangements. Re-elected legislator Thabitha Khumalo, whose constituency covers the ZSM location, said she had been notified of the development and was investigating the matter.