Teesside University, UK has issued an ultimatum to Nigerian students in the school.
The
school sent some Nigerian students packing following their inability to pay
tuition fees, as a result of forex shortages.
The
university has ordered the affected students to discontinue their studies and
leave the UK.
The
students were blocked from their studies and reported to the Home Office after
the value of Nigeria’s naira plummeted, wiping out their savings.
According
to report monitored on the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, some of the
students said they felt suicidal as they accused the university of taking a
“heartless” approach to those who fell into arrears as a result
A
university spokesman said failure to pay was a breach of visa sponsorship
requirements, and that it had “no choice” but to alert the Home Office. The
Home Office said visa sponsorship decisions rested with the institution.
Nigeria
is currently experiencing serious economic crisis, which is having a
significant impact on Nigerian students at some UK universities.
Average
inflation is almost 34%, and the situation deteriorated due to some policies
introduced by the government.
Before
beginning their studies at Teesside, affected students were told they had to
show proof of having enough funds to pay tuition fees and living expenses.
However,
those funds were significantly depleted because of the crisis in their home
country.
A group
of students, some of whom shared their names with the BBC, began pressing the
university for support after several people who defaulted on payments were
frozen out of university accounts and involuntarily withdrawn from their
courses.
Some
were reportedly also contacted by debt collection agencies contracted by the
university.
Adenike
Ibrahim was close to handing in her dissertation at the end of two years of
study when she missed one payment and was then kicked off her course and
reported to the Home Office.
She
subsequently paid the outstanding fees but said she had not been re-enrolled
and was told she must leave the country, along with her young son.
“I did
default [on payments], but I’d already paid 90% of my tuition fees and I went to
all of my classes,” she said.
“I
called them and asked to reach an agreement, but they do not care what happens
to their students.”
She
said the experience was “horrendous” and she did not know what was happening
with her qualification.
“It has
been heartbreaking for my son especially, he has been in so much distress since
I told him,” Ms Ibrahim added.
No
right of appeal
The
Home Office told students, including Ms Ibrahim, that their permission to enter
the UK had been cancelled because they stopped studying at the university.
The
letters, seen by the BBC, offer a date by which the student must leave the
country and say they do not have a “right of appeal or administrative review
against the decision”.
Since
receiving his letter, one master’s degree student – who did not want to be
named – said he had seriously considered suicide and was not eating or
drinking.
The
university said it had made “every effort” to support affected students, who
had now been offered individual meetings with specialist staff and bespoke
payment plans where requested.
Esther
Obigwe said she repeatedly tried to speak to the university about her financial
struggles but received no response, until she too was blocked from her studies
and received notice to leave the country.
“I
attended all of my classes and seminars, I’m a hell of an active student,” she
said.
“It is
disheartening, I am now on antidepressants and being here alone, I have nobody
to talk to.
“For
over two months, I’ve barely eaten or slept, and I don’t understand why this is
being meted at us, we didn’t do anything wrong.”
She
added that most of the students had “spent a lot of money to be here”.
Jude
Salubi, who was studying to be a social worker, was midway through a placement
when he was told his access to the university was suspended and he would have
to leave the country.
Prior
to that, he travelled from Teesside to Liverpool each weekend to work 18 hours
to pay off the outstanding fees.
“As of
now I have paid £14,000 and have a balance of £14,000,” he said.
“I am
willing to come to an agreement as to how I will make this payment, but I need
guarantees that I will be re enrolled into school and my visa restored.”
A
university spokesman said: “Teesside University is proud to be a global
institution with a diverse student population but is also very aware of its
obligations regarding visa issuance and compliance.
“These
strict external regulations ensure that the university fully supports a robust
immigration system and is outside of the university’s control.”
The
spokesman added it was “aware of the challenging financial situation faced by
some students” and had “actively offered bespoke payment plans where
requested”.
“This
option has been taken up by many of our international students; however, some
students have still defaulted on these revised payment plans,” he said.
The
Home Office said a decision to offer or withdraw visa sponsorship rested with
the sponsoring institution.
A
spokesman said wherever a visa was shortened or cancelled, individuals should
“take steps to regularise their stay or make arrangements to leave the UK”.
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