By: Felix Ikpotor
No fewer than eight thousand students of the Rivers State University (RSU) risked dropping out of school or incurring an extra year due to non-payment of fees and registration of courses.
This is even as the school authorities have given the students a grace of one week from 17th to 24th October, 2022 to clear their outstanding debts or they will not be allowed to take their second semester examinations.
This decision was reached by the management of the school after a meeting of the Committee of Dean’s and Provosts of schools held 14th October, 2022.
Confirming the development, Registrar of the school, Dr. Sydney Eyindah said in a statement that the situation is disturbing considering it’s negative implication on the running cost of the school.
The statement reads in parts: ” The meeting was informed that over 8,000 students across different years of studies have not paid their fees or registered their courses. This situation was very worrisome considering the enormous negative implication on the running of the affairs of the University.
“Consequently, the meeting after a review of the situation decided to postpone the second semester examination as to allow for a grace period of one week for students to pay their fees and register their courses. Therefore, the second semester examinations will now commence on 24th October, starting with final year students”.
It added: ” Only students who paid fees and registered their courses are to participate in the second semester examinations. To give effect to this, only students whose names appear in the examination attendance sheet shall be allowed into the examination hall”.
Eyindah reminded the students that by “the Academic Regulations, students who fail to pay fees and register for any sessions are deemed to have withdrawn for that year”.
The statement further directed deans, heads of departments, Provosts, directors and management to fully implement the resolution.