Students reject fee hike as university orders payment in USD

Students from the Higher Institute of Applied Techniques (ISTA) in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have expressed outrage at the order by authorities that academic fees must be paid in US dollars (USD), a decision they say could hike the fees.

Students took to the streets on 19 February 2024 – at the beginning of the academic year – protesting over the decision and calling on authorities to withdraw the decision. Students previously paid tuition fees in the local currency (Congolese francs), but the university says payment in USD will mitigate financial disruptions associated with foreign exchange.

The peaceful demonstration turned violent, with clashes between students and police reported. Six students and nine police officers were injured, according to sources. ISTA is one of the biggest technical universities with more than 5,000 students.

Parents cannot afford the ‘hike’

Students claim that the new directive will cause an increase in tuition fees of between US$70 and US$100 for ongoing classes and final-year classes, respectively.

Maurice Mukadayi, the president of the National Union of Congolese Students of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said they want it reversed. In Congolese francs, the fees were approximately CF615,000 (about US$220). The current fee of US$300 represents a big increase, he said.

“It is not reasonable to order people who earn salaries in local currency to pay in USD,” Mukadayi said. “Some parents cannot afford to pay this much. Where are they going to get dollars and why should we be the victims of local versus foreign currency?” he asked.

Unstable exchange rate the reason

According to Professor Anaclet Kahuli Bititi, ISTA director general, the new payment model is “just a change in payment" and has little effect on the tuition fee. He said that the decision was agreed upon during a senior management meeting where students were represented.

He added that the decision came as a “mutual agreement with all actors that academic fees for the 2023-2024 financial year should be set in USD to overcome the problem of the unstable exchange rate and thus guarantee social peace”.

Bititi noted that the university would also pay its internal staff in USD, justifying fixing the tuition fees in this currency.

Use appropriate channels to complain

According to Bititi, students should present their complaints through their committee to the head of the establishment other than protesting over “easy things”.

“Students should complain of their rights peacefully and meet us [the management] through their committees so that we can solve their problem,” he said, denouncing the demonstrations.