UWI students protest lack of access to online lessons

A group of students protested at the University of the West Indies Mona campus this morning (March 28) against the institution's decision to block them from accessing online lessons.

The University started applying pressure on several students, about a month ago, in an effort to collect outstanding fees.

About 30 students sat for hours in front of the University's administrative building this morning, claiming that the institution did not communicate with them effectively, before taking action.

One of the protesting students, Crystal Tomlinson, says the action was not reasonable.

Ms. Tomlinson says while the university has a right to collect all outstanding fees it could have handled the situation better.

She claims that, all students are equally punished, regardless of the amount of money, each of them owes.

The students ended their protest after they were addressed by the Campus Registrar who promised to rectify the situation.

Meanwhile, the University of the West Indies (UWI) is defending its decision to block some students, from accessing computer-based course work.

The University says only two sets of students should have been affected.

They are, those who have made no arrangement to pay outstanding tuition fees, as well as those who have breached, their agreed payment schedules.

The University says other students may have been blocked, mistakenly.

The University's Director of Communications, Dr. Carroll Edwards, says the institution started taking action, because too many students have ignored repeated calls, for them to pay up.

She says the University is urging students affected by the blockage, to visit the Bursary, and make the necessary payment arrangements.

Dr. Edwards adds that students who take up the offer, will be able to access the University's online material again.