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Andile Tshuma, Chronicle Reporter
Students from the United College of Education in Bulawayo are up in arms with the college’s administration for allegedly deducting tuition fees from their industrial attachment allowances without their consent.

The students said the college was deducting money from their teaching practice allowance and channelling it towards their tuition fees.

The senior intake students representative council president Mr Calvin Magwegwe said the council had engaged the college administration over the issue.

“We have asked the administration to reduce the amounts it is deducting so that students are left with enough money to meet their basics while on teaching practice and the authorities have agreed. We will find out at the end of this month if this was effected,” said Magwegwe.

The junior intake SRC president Mr Buzani Ndlovu said students who went for teaching practice this term had also been affected by the high deductions which left them with very little money to use.

“We hope the college authorities will reduce the amounts it is deducting this month,” said Ndlovu.

The UCE Principal, Mr Adam Luthuli referred questions to the students’ representative council.

“I cannot talk to you before you talk to the SRC. Students go via the SRC so find the SRC and hear what they have to say first,” he said.

He was, however, unreachable afterwards.

One of the students who preferred anonymity for fear of victimisation said they had tried to engage the college administration through their leaders to no avail.

“We engaged the SRC over the issue but it seems nothing is being done to address our problem. We are told that the money being deducted goes towards fees but we need the money while out there,” he said.

Another student who was deployed to a school in Matabeleland North said she was struggling to make ends meet as her parents had withdrawn support because she was being paid an allowance.

“After the college stop order, I only get $29 which is only enough for the bus to and from Lupane. My parents think that Iam being paid enough to meet my basics while on my teaching practice yet this is not the case,” she said.

@andile_tshuma