Students of the University of Ghana have welcomed plans of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to absorb 50% of school fees for the 2020/2021 academic year.
The NDC at the launch of the 2020 manifesto Monday September 7 had indicated an intention to slash 50% of the fees of all tertiary students for the 2020/2021 academic year should they win power in December 2020.
In a statement, September 8, the students expressed gratitude to the NDC for the pronouncement while looking forward to it.
“We want to thank the NDC party for demonstrating good sense in keeping the students in their action plans for the administrative circle in the fourth republic”, parts of the statement reads.
The group led by Samuel Danquah Amaning and Sampson Tagbor stated they had expected the ruling government to do something about the situation but nothing has as yet been done.
“One would have thought that the ruling party took this bold and significant decision, especially when much resources are allocated to the government both within and outside the country to provide packages such as this to all citizens affected by this global health pandemic.”
The students, in the developing stages of the pandemic, had petitioned the Vice-Chancellors Ghana, and other educational authorities to slash the school fees for tertiary students.
According to them, tertiary students were bearing the brunt of the pandemic and a school fee slash was the least the government could do.
While praising the NDC’s initiative the students sought clarification on the promise.
“Tertiary institutions are likely to reopen before 7th December which is the election year, if that is true, how do we benefit from that policy in time since students would have paid for their fees? Here time is of the essence.
“Considering the payment schedules of most tertiary institutions where some operate with 50-50, 60-40 etc payment plans, how are we going to reconcile the differences in respective institutions so as not to create any unnecessary inconveniences for the smooth academic and administrative year?
“Does the absorption of 50% fees include that of residential and academic user fees?”, they inquired.
Tertiary institutions were closed down in the middle of the semester as a precaution against the spread of the Covid-19. Most of the institutions continued their academic activities online. Tertiary students have not received any alleviation package from the government since the outbreak of the pandemic.
By Edem Tutu|3news.com|Ghana