Fees of nearly R130-million are outstanding at several tertiary institutions around Pretoria - and students falling ever deeper into debt may be forced to abandon their academic careers if they do not pay up.
With universities and technikons loath to blacklist students who owe them fees from current or sometimes preceding years, the institutions have introduced a variety of measures to make it easier for those in debt to pay up.
Topping the list in the Greater Tshwane area with regard to the amount it is owed is the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), where students are in debt to the tune of almost R70-million. This figure includes defaulters in current and previous academic years.
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The exact amount of R67,3-million is about six percent of the total budget of the university which was created through the merger of three technikons.
| 'Outstanding fees pose a problem for students who want to continue with their studies' |
The former Technikon Pretoria, which had a total of 43 000 students, had outstanding debts of R20,4-million at the beginning of 2004.
The former Technikon North West, with 5 000 students, had R15,6-million outstanding and the former Technikon Northern Gauteng (10 000 students) was owed R31,3-million in outstanding fees. This means the merged institution is owed R67,3-million.
In line with TUT policy, debt outstanding from the previous academic year has to be paid before students are allowed to register for a new year.
Willa de Ruyter, TUT spokesperson, said: "The university does have an instalment system in place to assist students to pay off their debt. At the start of the academic year, individual students should arrange with student accounts to pay their class fees in a number of more manageable instalments."
Registration fees at the TUT are now R175, with an upfront payment of R2 000. This was was previously R1 500. The general fees increase for the current 2004 academic year at TUT is between six percent and 8,5 percent, based on the annual inflation figures.
| 'The university does have an instalment system' |
At the University of Pretoria outstanding fees amount to R45-million.
This amount includes outstanding fees of students registered in 2003, as well as student debt from earlier years.
Tuks spokesperson Elsabé Conradie said: "Outstanding fees pose a problem for students who want to continue with their studies."
"If the students do not make the necessary arrangements for financial assistance, they cannot pursue their studies; certainly not until they have paid up for the previous year."
Many students at Tuks depend on NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) loans to finance their studies. The granting of these loans is based on academic performance.
The head of student accounts at Tuks, Johan Vermeulen, said: "Poor academic performance often results in the loans not being granted."
"This causes the student to have an outstanding balance at the end of the year as limited alternative resources are available."
"The decision on the granting of the loans is based on mid-term academic results."
Tuition fees and registration fees for the current year have not been increased at Tuks.
Factors that contribute to non-payment and subsequent debt include unemployment, students who drop out and other financial difficulties.
Like Tuks, TUT advises students to contact the NSFAS to apply for financial assistance.
At Unisa, about R10-million is owed by past and present students.
All institutions said that blacklisting defaulting students was absolutely a last resort.
This means that only a very limited number of students have been blacklisted.
- This article was originally published on page 1 of Pretoria News on March 08, 2004
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