The Editor, Sir:

I am particularly disturbed by the announced plan of the University of Technology (UTech) to, at this late stage of the semester, prohibit students from sitting the end-of-semester examinations because of non-payment of tuition fees. I find this to be most diabolical.

At this stage of the semester, the prescribed policy should be to allow the students to sit the exams but withhold the grades (and the granting of the degrees, if it happens to be the student's final semes-ter) until the outstanding fees are paid. Additionally, registration for the ensuing semester, as applicable, should only be permitted upon the payment of the outstanding fees.

We have seen this situation played out before at the University of the West Indies. Perhaps, a clear, or clearer, policy ought to be laid out at these institutions to require the full payment of tuition fees by an early, established period within the semester, say, within 30 days of the start of classes.

Pay at least half tuition

Alternatively, students who would not be able to make full payment within the 30-day period could be allowed to pay at least half the tuition fees to ensure registration, and subscribe to a payment plan (of whatever frequency as developed by the university) to pay the remainder before the end of the semester in question. The schools should not arbitrarily, as it would appear, give students a timeline and whatever extension(s) to pay the remaining fees.

Those students who did not pay all tuition charges for the semester within the stipulated 30-day period, and who chose not to subscribe to the payment plan, should be automatically deregistered after the 30-day period. Refunds, as policy reasonably dictates, should be given accordingly.

Otherwise, once there is sub-scription to the payment plan, deregistration should not be allowed but for bad faith on the part of the students in satisfying their obligation.

Understandably, the universities rely on the tuition fees to help provide the to satisfy some of their operating expenses. However, it cannot be conscionable to have the students remain on campus for the preponderant part of the semester, only to bar them from sitting their exams.

I am etc.,

KEVIN K.O. SANGSTER

sangstek@msn.com