S. Sudanese students complain of high cost of tuition in Uganda
September 19, 2014 (KAMAPALA) – South Sudanese students studying at various public Universities in Uganda say they are highly charged, despite an earlier agreement for a uniform fee structure.
In July, Uganda and South Sudan signed a memorandum of understanding, which would see South Sudanese university students pay the same tuition fees at their Ugandan counterparts. South Sudanese pay $200 more than Ugandan students.
Mapuor Makuach, a South Sudanese student in Uganda, said he was excited on learning about the agreement harmonising the fees.
“Actually I was so much happy when I heard of it, and I was following up whether it will be implemented practically, I heard it will be too soon especially this semester,” Makuach told Sudan Tribune.
“We also got some sheets put on note board and now they are no longer there and when we asked in some colleges, we got different information and we sometimes feel like the thing is just in the book and not practical,” he added.
Bou Celina Jamal, a final year student at Makerere University, says she often finds it very difficult, like other foreign students, to pay fees.
“The tuition is higher for us and the function fees are also higher, we don’t have equal things that give us hardship and they want you to pay 60%. It is really hard as some courses require more than Shs 3 million,” said Jamal.
Lual James Ngok, the vice president of South Sudanese student union in Kampala, said the signed agreement was yet to yield fruits.
“We are in touch with the public universities, for example Makerere University. Some few days ago, I talked to the deputy registrar, but he told me that as an institution, they were not given information by the government of Uganda so it is not yet into effect,” said Ngok.
South Sudanese have opted to study in neighboring countries due to the largely undeveloped education system and curriculum systems.
“Our students had no choice other than to move to its neighbouring countries with strong quality education,” stressed the student leader.
He however urged the leadership in the country to work towards the establishment of a very strong education system in the young nation.
“That is the best way we can solve illiteracy problems”, said Ngok.
(ST)