By CHILA NAMAIKO –

RUSANGU University management in Monze has said the increment in school fees has been caused by high inflation and the escalating costs of running the institution.

The Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church-run university, currently with 1,910 students at campus, increased fees to K10, 250 from K7, 944 for full-time students effective April 2014, while their part-time colleagues would pay K5, 975 from K3, 716.

The increment, however, prompted students to protest on Monday and Tuesday demanding that the new fees should not be effected.

Rusangu University public relations officer, Fitzgerald Muchindu said in a statement yesterday that management communicated the change of the fees through the learning institution’s website long before the students reported for the December session.

“The same information was available on all bulletin boards just to make sure that all the students were well informed of the new development and were given sufficient time to prepare for the new fees come April 2014,” Mr Muchindu said.

He said the decision to increase the fees was approved during the November 2013 university council meeting and that the students were informed about the changes.

Mr Muchindu said the students were even given an opportunity to air their grievances on Sunday during a meeting between management and the student council leadership.

 “After this meeting, the student council president submitted concerns to management and assurance was given that the concerns would be looked at,” Mr Muchindu said.

He said on Monday, management engaged the students in an urgent meeting but some decided not to go for classes and instead started harassing those who had listened to the advice.

Mr Muchindu said four students were spotted pulling down the national flag which was later packed in a handbag of a female student and that management was probing the matter.

He said the campus was now calm and that management was committed to providing a peaceful and safe environment for all the students.