NUGS press statement ON THE OUTRAGEOUS PROLIFERATION OF UNJUSTIFIABLE LEVIES OF SCHOOL FEES IMPOSED ON OUR MEMBER INSTITUTIONS.
The attention of the National Executives of the NATIONAL UNION OF GHANA STUDENTS (NUGS) has been drawn to the fact that the School Authorities of our member institutions are imposing unjustifiable levies on our colleague students as part of their schedule of fees for (3) three consecutive years including this 2013/2014 academic year while we see little or no improvement in structural and educational development policies attached to these levies over the years.
This concern was highly agitated upon when the National Officers of the Union met all SRC and Local NUGS executives as well as Bloc executives at our Central Committee meeting (CC) held at Christian Service University College (CSUC) on Tuesday, 16/07/2013. It was well noted that even our basic schools, senior high schools, nursing schools, teacher training colleges, professional institutions, polytechnics and private institutions are also facing similar hefty levies being imposed on students as part of their school fees whiles they continue to pay expensive residence / hostel fees and feeding fees.
The leadership of NUGS is particularly not happy with the manner with which these fees are charged to the displeasure of our students as compared to the diminutive nature of structural and educational development policies attached to these levies over the years.
Following this report, the National Executives have performed very meticulous checks in our member institutions and the union by this statement calls on all stakeholders to as a matter of urgency forestall the payments of the following charges which is an example of the numerous unjustifiable and burdensome charges that the university authorities are imposing on our colleague students.
• University of Ghana, Legon is charging GH¢100 as Physical Development Levy for the 2013/2014 academic year in addition to school fees ranging from GH¢746 to GH¢1781 before paying for expensive hostel / residence fees on campus.
• The hefty faculty and departmental charges in the University of Cape Coast (UCC). Some of the departments are even charging as much as GH¢250.
• The general exorbitant hike in the school fees for the University of Development Studies (UDS): (Wa, Tamale, Nyankpala and Navrongo Campuses) by the Management of UDS.
In solidarity with our member institutions mentioned above, the leadership of NUGS is by this statement calling on all stakeholders especially the Ministry of Education, the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), Vice Chancellors, Ghana (VCG), Ghana Education Service (GES), National Conference of Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF) to with a fierce urgency respond to our plight and forestall these payments before the end of July 2013 because most of our member institutions will commence the new academic year in august and students would have to make these payments before they will be allowed to register in addition to their school fees and residence fees.
We wish to state in plain terms that, we will relentlessly pursue this concern until the authorities heed to our petition because we are very committed to making life comfortable for our students. This attitude of rampantly imposing unjustifiable but increasing levies on our students by some stakeholders and the authorities of our member institutions must come to a halt.
Written By:
EUGENE ACKOM-DAMTEY (NUGS Education Secretary)
LOUISA ATTA – AGYEMANG (NUGS General Secretary)
