Maria do Rosário Sambo, who was speaking after a meeting with the Association of Students of Private Universities of Angola (AEUPA) recalled that students should be charged up to 60 percent of the tuition fee.
"It means that this is the limit and the institution may, according to its conditions, decide not to charge or do it at lower values to safeguard teachers' salaries and the institution's operation," said the minister.
A joint executive decree drawn up last week by the ministries of Education, Finance and Higher Education, authorizes the charging of 60 per cent of the monthly fee in private educational institutions and 25 per cent in reimbursed schools for the duration of the state of emergency.
According to the document, without prejudice to the pertinent adjustments to school calendars, tuition fees "must be an integral part of the payment of the 10 months provided for each academic year".
The situation continues to cause "indignation" among students and guardians, who question the motivations for paying the tuition fee, especially in April, when the state of emergency was in force and with classes canceled, when the "service was not provided".
However, for the minister, who foresees adjusting the calendar in higher education until January 23, 2021, to compensate for the April classes, students "should not pay fines or late fees" during the state of emergency.
"The executive decree is very clear is that no student will pay more than the 10 months due to him in the light of the agreement with the institution, safeguarding that the school year will have to be adjusted according to the circumstances", he explained.
Maria do Rosário Sambo also added that if the state of emergency does not end on 10 May and is extended "the measures will be duly established", but it is not possible to "anticipate" the decision.
