KUALA LUMPUR – The Universiti Malaya Students’ Union (KMUM) has questioned the decision to increase course fees for the 2021/22 session.
The hike is worrying as there will be students who find it difficult to afford the payments, it said.
According to the fee schedule provided by KMUM in its statement today, the Bachelor of Finance degree fee is increased from RM9,740 to RM13,900 (43% hike), and Bachelor of Accounting (RM7,860 to RM17,000, a 128% increase).
“These courses happen to be programmes in the arts stream,” said the union.
“The teaching methods for these courses don’t involve the use of practical tools, such as for students in the engineering, science and pharmaceutical faculties.”
The Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws degrees are seeing a 0.2%, 0.8% and 0.9% fee increase, respectively.
“Ironically, the business, economic and law programmes are not seeing a drastic increase in fees,” said the statement.
“KMUM is of the view that the unequal fee increments have created doubts and suspicions among students.
“Thus, KMUM is urging the university to reconsider the fee increases for these courses.”
For courses in the science stream, said the union, the fees for the upcoming session are increased by 10% to 60%.
KMUM described this as unreasonable.
“It is hoped that the university can clarify the fee increments, and the explanation must be rational and in line with the quality of education afforded.”
This comes despite the Higher Education Ministry on June 30 saying there will be no fee increases for tertiary-level students.
Minister Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad had said the ministry requested that universities not impose activity fees, as most students were not staying on campus amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The ministry on July 16 announced that a total of 386,142 public varsity students nationwide will benefit from the government’s RM185.7 million fee reduction scheme aimed at helping those affected by the pandemic.
It had said the reduction of between 10% and 35% was granted following a circular dated March 22 issued by the Higher Education Department to public universities. – The Vibes, October 2, 2021
