AFRICA

EAST AFRICA: Minister wants university fees harmonised

Following the recent signing of the inter-university bill by partner states of the East African Community, or EAC, all universities in the five member countries should charge uniform fees, chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers Monique Mukaruliza has urged. But the decision should only be implemented after legislation and ratification of the bill and protocol has been done by member states, reports The New Times.

"Both the common market protocol and the inter-university bill provide for non-discriminatory treatment for members of the community. When the common market is implemented and the inter-university bill ratified there will be no discrimination in all areas including university fees," said Mukaruliza at a press briefing last week.

"Students from member states of the community should be treated with the same conditions. They should pay uniform fees without discrimination," she added.

In an interview with The New Times, Mukaruliza observed that though the principle of regional integration was accepted, harmonisation of laws had been largely ignored by East African countries, making it difficult to implement adopted joint programmes and projects, such as the harmonisation of fees.
Full report on The New Times site