State universities could be charging more than $15 000 a semester once all ancilliary fees, accommodation and meals have been added on top of the Government-controlled tuition fees.

Government set maximum tuition fees between $3 500 and $5 000 per semester for universities, depending on course while tuition at colleges was set at between $500 and $1 500. The ancillary fees, accommodation and meals were left to the institutions to determine.

University ancillary charges include registration, examination, maintenance, medical aid, technology, students union, sports levy, laboratory, travel, student development, fieldwork and graduation fees.

At the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), where tuition for a medical student was set at $4 995, the total including ancillary fees is $8 655. Students staying on campus will also have to pay accommodation fees, which has not been invoiced but is said to be between $8 000 to $10 000.

Students from outside Harare who opt to rent rooms in Mount Pleasant and Vainona near campus, will probably have to pay their landlords anything between $1 200 and $1 800, often demanded in foreign currency per semester.

Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation and Technology Development Minister, Professor Amon Murwira has, however, encouraged parents and guardians to take advantage of the student loan scheme saying Government has no jurisdiction over ancillary fees.
“People should take loans because they are meant to be used,” he said.-State media