By Sorie Ibrahim Fofanah
Students of the various constituent colleges of the University of Sierra Leone have expressed concerns over a twenty-five percent Fee increment by the University.
The Director of Public Relations, Alumni, and International Affairs for USL, James Tamba Lebbie confirmed the increment in an interview with Politico. He attributed the increase to the inflation affecting prices of goods and services.
The students Politico spoke to express their discontent over the increment, saying it is a “huge financial burden.”
Hassan O. Kargbo a Final Year Print Journalism student in the Faculty of Communication, Information, and Media Studies, at Fourah Bay College (FBC) said the 25% increment in fees is a serious and challenging issue for many students that he could not even pay the previous fees.
“Attending classes when you know the financial status of your parents or guardian can distract a student from focusing,” Kargbo said. He called on the government to intervene and stop the increase not just in fees but other charges as well.
Musa Imourana, a Medical Student at the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (CHOMAS) said the 25% increment can be acceptable if necessary facilities are provided. “It all depends on what students will realize at the end of the day,” he said, adding that increment in fees is accompanied by extra charges linked to field trips, and internet facilities among others.
A third-year Law student at FBC, Paul Nabieu said the increment is “very much devastating,” and does not favour the student population, many of whom he said could become dropouts considering the current economic situation.
He said at the time he was admitted to the Law Department, he paid seven million old Leones in Year One but said Year One students will now be paying over ten million Leones (old currency). “This will have to affect students, psychologically and emotionally,” he added. He said the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education and the university authorities should revisit the decision to increase fees.
A student in the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at FBC, Osman Turay said a majority of the students are not in favour of the exponential increase in university fees, recalling that at the time he gained admission, he paid about five million old Leones in a year one. “The new fee for Engineering is now two times what we used to pay over the years,” Turay said and called on the Students’ Union President to engage the college authorities so they could address the problem.
At the Faculty of Accountancy, Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), a final-year student pursuing Financial Services, Alusine Kallon said the increment in university fees did not come as a surprise to him. He paid some four million old Leones in year one, but currently a year one student would have to pay over five million old Leones. “Sierra Leone is a nation where whenever prices in commodities increase can never be reversed,” Kallon said.
Copyright (c) 2023 Politico (24/11/23)
