By OLIVER SAMBOKO
STUDENTS and graduates at Copperstone University have not been refunded their tuition fees months after the Higher Education Authority (HEA) ordered the higher learning institution to cease offering nine uncredited Engineering courses.
This followed a joint inspection between HEA and the Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIZ) which concluded that Copperstone University was offering engineering programmes against regulations.
The cessation was in accordance with the provisions of Statutory Instrument No. 25 of 2016 Part III Section 10 (1), which states that the proprietor of a Higher Education Institution shall not offer a learning programme for which it is not accredited.
Students told the Daily Nation that they had not been refunded their tuition and other fees since February when HEA sanction the higher learning institution, whose camps is on the Kitwe-Ndola highway.
The students complained that they had made several presentations but to date they had not been given their money.
Meanwhile, HEA Communications Officer, Boniface Musoba said the organisation had suspended all inspections and would only make a final decision on Copperstone University breach of regulation after the COVID 19 was over.
He said HEA was aware of the anxiety among the affected students and graduates but that the issue with Copperstone University would only be hanled after the coronavirus been dealt with.
“In the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic, all visits to higher Education Authority have been suspended, therefore the matter involving Copperstone University is still pending and will be resolved after the pandemic has been evaded,” he said.
Copperstone University was directed to stop offering programmes of Bachelor of Building and Construction, Bachelor of Electrical
Engineering, Bachelor of Electronics Engineering and Bachelor of Mining Engineering.
Others were Diploma in Auto-Mechanics, Diploma in Electronics Engineering, Diploma in Mining Engineering, Diploma in Motor Vehicle Engineering and Certificate in Mining Engineering.
Copperstone Uni students still in limbo
