Harmonised system for higher learning institution fees starts next month - govt

By Aisia Rweyemamu

Education and Vocational Training deputy minister, Anne Kilango

The government has said the long awaited mechanism to guide institutions of higher learning on how students would pay for their studies (Students’ Unit Cost) will start next month.

 

Education and Vocational Training deputy minister Anne Kilango told the National Assembly here yesterday that the mechanism which will determine programme costs and the setting of tuition fees would be applicable to all universities.

 

Kilango was responding to a supplementary question by Ubungo lawmaker John Mnyika (Chadema) who had wanted to know when the system will start to be used.

 

The deputy minister said the government has prepared a special mechanism to guide higher learning institutions to determine programme costs and the setting of tuition fees.

 

Kilango added that the government’s decision to come up with the framework, follows the variation on tuition fees charged by institutions of higher learning on more or less similar programmes.

 

According to the deputy minister, there are some universities in the country which are more business oriented than service providing, as a result they set higher tuition fee which pose a big burden to parents and students.

 

In her basic question, Special Seats MP Amina Makilagi had demanded to know the fee structures in public universities, arguing that they did not correspond with the income of Tanzanians.

 

Responding, Kilango told the National Assembly that the variation of tuition fees in the country’s universities has been a long time problem although the education policy of 1999 allowed higher learning institutions to set their own fees and control their sources of income.

 

She said public varsities receive subsidies from the government that is why their fees are lower compared to those in private universities.

 

Kilango added that there are also variations on fees in public universities based on the programmes offered. She cited tuition fee for Engineering course at the University of Dar es Salaam which costs 1.3m/-, while the same course at University of Dodoma costs 1.5m/-.

 

The deputy minister further said that fees for some courses at UDSM cost 1.3m/-, while the same course at UDOM costs 1. 2m/-.

 

In March last year the government approved a mechanism meant to guide institutions of higher learning on how students would pay for their studies (Student Unit Cost Framework) and Tool for Higher Education. The framework was expected to be put to work beginning this academic year. 

 

The framework is aimed at determining programme costs and the setting of tuition fees for the institutions. Until now there is no formula to be followed by all higher learning institutions in the country.

 

Speaking at the launch of the framework, Education and Vocational Training minister Dr Shukuru Kawambwa said the Students’ Unit Cost is a response to the complaints by stakeholders on the varying tuition fees charged by institutions of higher learning on more or less similar programmes.

 

The minister said that SUC will help to reduce and regulate tuition fees and assist the Higher Learning Students’ Loan Board (HESLB) to serve more students at reasonable costs.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN