Students and ‘vanishing’ school fees

Students suddenly finding themselves short of cash to pay school fees has been a common and recurring problem in many universities in Ghana. Such a situation usually creates unnecessary stress for affected students especially during the time leading to examinations.

While some students genuinely do not receive full fees from their parents or guardians on time, many other students are also known to mismanage the money meant for their fees. Some of such students have confirmed quietly to this reporter that indeed they use their school fees for other things.

According to one student of the African University College of Communications (AUCC) who preferred not to be named, she "borrowed" her school fees hoping that she would replace the amount before the time for examinations. "It has been peer pressure that has led me into misspending my fees and now I am denying myself access to write my semester examination", she said.

A Level 400 student, who runs an online business, said she invested her school fees in what looked like a prospective venture. Unfortunately the business went slow when clients refused to buy products, they had expressed interest in. "Until I'm able to sell the goods", she said, I will not be able to pay my fees and subsequently write my exams".

Some students are known to engage in games of chance. A Level 300 student told this reporter about how he once used part of his fees to gamble with the high expectation of winning a huge sum of money but things did not work out as he expected and was denied access into the examination hall for his end of semester examination.

Failing to settle school fees come with serious consequences. "Student in AUCC have been given guidelines on how to pay their fees and if they had any financial challenges, to see the authorities to make some payment plan on how they can pay their fees but unfortunately, many struggling students have not reached out to us because they may not have good excuses to give," Mr. Raphael accounts officer disclosed. 

For the majority of students, however, paying school fees in good time has not been an option; it has been a duty. "Ever since I was enrolled as a student, whenever school is about to reopen, I inform my dad and he gives me the first installment which I pay promptly and present him with the receipt. Because he has other bills to settle, he makes up for the full payment later", she said

Chiamaka, a Level 300 foreign student said she always paid her fees by the third week after school resumes. She said she feared she would be denied access to write her end of semester exams so she always made sure she settled the fees right after her parents had sent it"I always pay my fees in full so I can be free", she said.