By Oyinlola Ayomide
Teesside University in the United Kingdom, which proposes to evict Nigerian students struggling to pay their tuition fees, has offered to fund their flights home.
This decision came after numerous students were ejected from their courses and told to vacate the campus due to their inability to pay tuition fees. The financial crisis in Nigeria, exacerbated by the university’s adjustment from a seven-deferred payment plan to a three-deferred payment plan, has left many students struggling to cover expenses.
On 22nd May, some students at Teesside University were expelled from their courses and told to leave due to their inability to pay tuition fees at that time. Some students cited the depreciation of the naira as a hindrance to meeting their financial demands, which led to an infringement of their visa benefits.
Some students’ accounts were locked, reported to the Home Office, and they were asked to leave the United Kingdom. About 60 affected students expressed their dissatisfaction and grief, accusing the university of being inconsiderate and cruel.
The students liaised to plead with the university for assistance after the notice of the difficulties their colleagues were facing from late payments. Following demonstrations and the intervention of the Nigerian government, the university has enlisted some of the affected students and created a subsidy.
The university supported a small group of students who had to return to their country by opening an international subsidy to reduce their financial struggles back home. The university also offered some students the option to complete their studies in Nigeria or return to the United Kingdom at a later date.