It has been revealed that more than two thousand students at the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies, (UWI) are yet to complete the payment of their tuition fees for the current academic year.
The news follows a protest by a group of students outside the gates of the UWI Wednesday. The students claimed they had been blocked from the university's electronic access system through which they source learning material.
However, the administration of the UWI is defending the move and has shed light on the circumstances which led to the students being barred. In a statement, the UWI said it had taken note of the protest arising from the decision to deny access to aspects of its online resources for approximately three thousand members of the student body who have outstanding balances with the institution. The university has a student population of 15-thousand.
Our news centre was informed last night that the figure was reduced after several students came forward Wednesday to clear their arrears. The UWI says access has been denied to students who have not paid fees since the beginning of the 2011/2012 academic year last August, do not have an approved payment plan in place for payment of fees, or have not been honouring agreed payment plans.
The university says since August it has been encouraging students to pay or make arrangements to settle tuition and other fees. Periodic reminders have been issued over the course of the academic year and students advised that they will not be admitted to exams unless registered for the course and have received financial clearance from the University.
However, despite the availability of an instalment payment plan, the UWI says the number of students taking up the facility remains relatively small. The UWI is urging students with outstanding fees who do not yet have an approved payment plan in place, to immediately contact the Billings and Receivables Section of the Bursary to make the necessary arrangements.
All feeds
