By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Evelyn N
Published on 2024-02-08 18:43:46
Students at St. Jude Higher Institute of Biomedical Science are encountering difficulties in their academic journey due to a mandatory graduation fee that they claim they cannot afford. Level 300 students registering for their Higher National Diploma (HND) exams this year allege that the school is refusing to process their registration unless they first pay a 35,000 CFA franc graduation fee.
“We came to school today with everything completed for our exam registration, but they said they would first deduct the graduation fee before allowing us to proceed,” said one student, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal. “We don’t have that kind of money right now, and we don’t know where to turn.”
The students, who are already facing financial challenges, expressed frustration and confusion over the policy. “Many of us come from underprivileged backgrounds,” another student shared. “This additional fee is a huge burden, and it feels unfair that they’re holding our exams hostage over it.”
They added, “We’re supposed to be focusing on our studies and preparing for our exams, but instead, we’re worried about how to come up with this money. We feel helpless and unheard.”
When reaching out to St. Jude for comments, the institution’s representative stated that the controversial fee is compulsory and applies to all the institutions run by St. Jude’s Higher Institute of Biomedical Sciences Douala.
The students told MMI that they cannot wait for the problem to be addressed. “All we want is to register this HND in peace and go. We are tired. We even pleaded that since their focus is the graduation fee and we do not have the mental health to register, write, and pass this HND, they should allow us to register externally. They refused and said they have our pre-registration codes, which are needed to register us and it won’t be given out if we don’t pay the money…”
Social media users have commented on the situation, with one stating, “Education should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. The school should focus on supporting its students, not creating unnecessary barriers.”
Another user added, “It’s important to remember that these students have already worked hard to get to this point. Denying them the opportunity to take their exams because of an unaffordable fee is simply wrong.”
As the situation unfolds, the students hope that their voices will be heard and that the school will find a more accommodating solution that allows them to focus on their studies and achieve their academic goals.
Read the original article(French) on Mimi Mefo Info
