NTU hostelites stay put to protest fee hike
By Loh Chee Keong, TODAY
SINGAPORE: Scores of residents at Nanyang Technological
University's Hall Three are refusing to move into its new premises
until the fees are revised, said the hostel's president.
Last month, NTU announced its proposed fee hikes. There was strong
resistance, especially from Hall Three residents. The increase for
them is the highest as they will be moving into a new seven-storey
building complete with "premium" features such as air-conditioners,
lifts and electronic card access.
According to Hall Three's president Lim Joo Tian, 23, a third-year
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering student, some 640 residents
were supposed to move over from the old hostel - which was built
more than two decades ago - to the new Hall Three by the start of
this month.
But as of Thursday, more than half had not done so, he said.
Today understands that the students want the university to reduce
the proposed fee hike and to stagger it.
Mr Lim, who has not moved out from the old hostel himself, added:
"We sent a proposal to the administration about one or two weeks
ago and we are waiting for a reply. Initially, we were given a
deadline to move out by Jan 3 ... we expect the situation to be
resolved in about three weeks."
For their old hostel, Hall Three residents paid $160 per month for
single rooms and $135 for double rooms. The fees will rise to $350
for single rooms and $240 for double rooms for the new
premises.
However, for the first six months, residents will pay concessionary
room rates of $240 and $180 for single and double rooms
respectively.
According to NTU, all hostel fees are already subsidised by up to
50 per cent. Also, an Office of Financial Assistance was set up to
help needy students.
In June last year, the residents were told by the administration
that the new rates would fall between $175 and $190.
Mr Luke How, 24, a final-year Biological Sciences student who was
the previous president of Hall Three, told Today that the residents
want the raised fees to be nearer to those indicative rates. -
TODAY
