Makerere University Guild President Petitions Administration Over Unused Students Functional Fees

Makerere University Guild President Ivan Ssempijja has petitioned the University administration seeking an immediate waiver of all function fees from the students in the academic year 2020/2021.

In a letter dated July 21st, Ssempijja says that in a situation like this when the pandemic is hitting everyone and that no physical lectures are being conducted, it would be necessary for the university to consider forwarding unused functional fees to other semesters to support students learning.

“In line with Standard Operating Procedures and relevant regulations aimed at reducing physical gatherings, the University adopted staggered presence at the premises. Whereas the university set up tuition fees to cater for a semester of 17 weeks after considerations of unit costs, students were only able to be at campus for four weeks and some for less time”, He noted.

Ssempijja further revealed that all over the world, students who attend their classes off campus pay much than their colleagues doing the same programs on campus.

“I therefore write to propose a waiver on functional fees so that we clear the unfairness for students who paid for facilities and services they never used. Given that many students had made trhis financial obligation before this consideration was made, it is my prayer that the balance is carried forward as their initial deposit on their next semester tuition fees”, He appealed.

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