Reprieve for UCE students

THE Government has directed the United College of Education in Bulawayo to allow student teachers to write their final examinations, regardless of fees arrears.

Last week Sunday News reported that the institution had told more than 200 final year students not to write their final examinations unless they settled their arrears. The institution allegedly then forced the affected students to fill forms indicating that they were deferring their studies to next year.

The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Professor Amon Murwira, visited institution on Friday and said no one will be barred from writing the examinations.

“The student teachers are going to write their examinations. Currently, we have given them loan forms, so that they are able to clear the outstanding fees. Even if we had not given them loan forms, they were still going to write their examinations because it is Government policy to ensure that no student is denied access to quality education,” said Prof Murwira.

The Minister also visited Solusi University where he announced that students at teachers’ colleges were now required to learn at least three indigenous languages to ensure they can be deployed anywhere in the country.