Great news for thousands of Fiji National University students who wish to live in the university hostel as the increase in the hostel fees has been temporarily postponed.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad revealed this to fijivillage News after he had a meeting with the Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro, the FNU, the Fiji Higher Education Commission, and the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission today.
He says they have agreed that the imposition of the increase in hostel fees will be postponed until the stakeholders have gone through a proper process.
Professor Prasad says the decision for an increase in hostel fees has been postponed until further processes and discussions take place between the stakeholders.
Meanwhile, many FNU students have raised serious concerns as FNU accommodation rates have increased, while the allowance they receive through the Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service remains the same.
A medical student at the Pasifika Campus, who is a National Toppers Scheme scholarship recipient, earlier told fijivillage News that the rate has increased from $1,200 to $1,800 per semester, or from $9.50 to $15 per day.
He says they receive $3,400 per semester and will now be left with $1,600 for food, transportation, and other educational needs.
The medical student adds students not on the National Toppers Scheme receive $2,500 through TSLS and would be suffering even more. The student also says that no reason has been given for the increase, and the Student Association has been raising the issue since last December, but the rate remains unchanged. Another student is imploring the university and the government to empathize with the students to consider their request to either reinstate the previous rate or come up with a lesser increase or to increase their TSLS allowance.
FNU had earlier said that they deemed it necessary to increase the hostel fees to keep pace with rising costs, including maintenance, utilities, and upgrades to improve the safety and quality of student accommodation.
They say they increased the fee after six years since the last revision.
FNU says these investments aim to ensure that students continue to benefit from a secure and conducive living environment.
They say the university had engaged a registered valuer to conduct a review of the hostel rates to determine the best rationale for the current market rate.
FNU says the proposed increases in rates went through the university processes such as consultation with the senior management, FNU Students Association, the Financial Resources Committee, and the Council before a green light was given for implementation.
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