INCREASED UNZA ACCOMMODATION FEES SLAMMED
By MUKOSELA KASALWE THE hike of student accommodation fees at the University of Zambia from K1, 200 to K3, 900 will discourage and negatively affect students aspiring to attain higher education at the institution, says Youth Aid chairperson Kachenga Chungu.
Mr Chungu said his organisation was not happy with the increased student accommodation fees by UNZA as it was not only a barrier to education but that it would demoralise students to aspire to enrol at the institution.
He said that it was a known fact that about 60 percent of Zambians were living in poverty and that parents as well as guardians could not afford such exorbitant fees.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Chungu appealed to the Minister of Higher Education Professor Nkandu Luo to look into the matter and ensure that as many youths as possible were given a chance at education.
“As Youth Aid we feel aggrieved with the recent increment of student accommodation fees by the University of Zambia management from K1, 200 to K3, 900 as this move will demoralise students to aspire to attain education, Mr Chungu said. He said youths were future leaders but that they would fail to provide leadership if they were not educated.
University of Zambia Students Union president Adrian Matole said the hiked accommodation fees were welcome but that the student body would take management to task by ensuring that the money was channelled to improving the hostels.