As universities and colleges continue to do increment in fees and other charges every year, the Ministry of Education has urged the Universities and Colleges to put on hold all increment in fees for this academic year.
In a release from the Permanent Secretary of the Education Ministry S.A.T Tamu, stated that “I am directed to request you to put on hold the current increase. Thus, tertiary Institutions are hereby requested to continue to levy the approved fees /charges for the 2009/2010 academic year until further notice.”
It is stated that the ministry has to conform to the directive from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development tertiary institutions to submit their financial statements and annual budgets to this Ministry every year.
The objective of this directive according to him is to enable the Ministry determine, among others, whether an increase in fees/ charges is necessary or not. In the absence of the submission, he said the Ministry is constrained to accept the current increase in charges/ fees for courses offered in tertiary institutions for the 2009/2010 academic year.
The Institute of Public Administration had earlier made an increment of 25% on the 2009/2010 charges and Fourah Bay College 30%. The President of the National Union of Sierra Leone Students Felix Koroma told Awoko that he was disappointed with the conduct of the University authorities stating that students were not provided the right facilities at their various campuses.
Mr. Koroma warned new students especially not to pay the increased fee as he said it would be difficult for them to retrieve their balance. He praised the Ministry of Education Youths and Sports for intervening in stopping the University.
In a release from the Permanent Secretary of the Education Ministry S.A.T Tamu, stated that “I am directed to request you to put on hold the current increase. Thus, tertiary Institutions are hereby requested to continue to levy the approved fees /charges for the 2009/2010 academic year until further notice.”
It is stated that the ministry has to conform to the directive from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development tertiary institutions to submit their financial statements and annual budgets to this Ministry every year.
The objective of this directive according to him is to enable the Ministry determine, among others, whether an increase in fees/ charges is necessary or not. In the absence of the submission, he said the Ministry is constrained to accept the current increase in charges/ fees for courses offered in tertiary institutions for the 2009/2010 academic year.
The Institute of Public Administration had earlier made an increment of 25% on the 2009/2010 charges and Fourah Bay College 30%. The President of the National Union of Sierra Leone Students Felix Koroma told Awoko that he was disappointed with the conduct of the University authorities stating that students were not provided the right facilities at their various campuses.
Mr. Koroma warned new students especially not to pay the increased fee as he said it would be difficult for them to retrieve their balance. He praised the Ministry of Education Youths and Sports for intervening in stopping the University.