Mauritius University Students Protest Against Hike in Fees

Students at the University of Mauritius on Wednesday demonstrated on the university campus, in Reduit, 15 km from the capital, Port Louis to protest against the decision of the university board to increase the admission fees by 20%.

The demonstration took place following the graduation ceremony of some 200 students at the university’s Octave Weihe Auditorium.

Speaking to journalists during the demonstration, Aartee Beekarry, President of the University Students Union decried the fact that there is no transparency in the management of the university funds. She added that students cannot understand why there has been an increase of 20% when inflation in the country stands at only 10%.

The president also castigated the administration for bypassing the union when decisions which concern the welfare of students are taken, and observed that it is through the press that they come to know of certain changes.

Beekarry added that students are against the plan of the institution to almost double its enrollment for the next academic year in August to bring it from 2,500 to 4,200.

She indicated that 75% of students failed the mathematics paper at the last examinations as lecturers do not have enough time. Added to this, she said lecture halls are overcrowded.

Earlier in his speech at the graduation ceremony, the Vice Chancellor Indur Fagoonee, indicated that the decision to increase the fees had been taken as the university was in dire financial straits. He disclosed that the university had wanted to introduce tuition fees, but had to abandon the idea due to opposition from the Ministry of Education.

Though the government has, for this academic year, increased its subsidies from US$8 to US$10 million, the university needs US$12 million in order to ensure smooth running, Fagoonee underlined.

Source African Press Agency

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