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(TALKZIMBABWE) Parties fight over student finance, as A Level results are released

Parties fight over student finance, as A Level results are released
By: Nancy Pasipanodya
Posted: Wednesday, January 26, 2011 1:31 pm

THE Schools Examinations Council of Zimbabwe released A-level exam results this week, amid reports that many of those who passed will not be able to afford university studies without expanded financial assistance.

Student leaders in Zimbabwe say they continue to lobby officials to advance tuition funding proposals saying many students have dropped out because they could not afford fees.

Hopes were raised late last year when Finance Minister Tendai Biti of the MDC-T party announced a US$15 million student loan and grant programme, but the scheme remains on the drawing board.

Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education Stan Mudenge of Zanu-PF wants the cadetship programme in which the State pays the fees and the student is bonded for a set period upon graduation, to work in Zimbabwe, to continue.

Zanu-PF argues that Biti should allocate more funds to productive sectors of the economy like agricultre, to stimulate the economy and generate present and future jobs.

Biti's allocation of US$122 million to agriculture in the last Budget was slammed as grossly inadequate for a sector that is expected to spur economic growth. There was also no specific funding for A2 commercial farmers.

Zanu-PF viewed the allocation as an effort to scuttle Zanu-PF's land reform programme.

President Mugabe has since set up a separate funding facility specifically targetted at A2 commercial farmers and communal farmers.

Zimbabwe National Students Union spokesman Kudakwashe Chakabva said that while pre-university students now have A-level results, he fears that many will not be able to pursue university studies and those from poor backgrounds will suffer most.

STUDENT ACTIVISTS

Other activists agree the loan and grant scheme must be implemented without delay.

Masimba Nyamanhindi, program coordinator with the Students Solidarity Trust, said the influence of partisan politics in education hurts students the most, and parties should put the needs of students first.

Zimbabwe's inclusive Government has set aside US$62.5 million for cadetship.

The programme in 2007 to assist students who could not meet study costs.

Labels: EDUCATION, MDC, NEOLIBERALISM, SCHOOL FEES

posted by MrK @ 3:23 PM