Recall that following a currency crisis that left them unable to pay tuition, students at Teesside University were forced to leave the UK and expelled from their degrees.
These students were ordered to leave the UK and removed from their courses after the University reported them to the Home Office.
The institution informed the BBC that it has now re-enrolled some of the affected students and established a travel fund in response to protests and the Nigerian government’s intervention.
The BBC reports that Teesside University in Middlesbrough pulled its sponsorship of multiple Nigerian students who were unable to pay tuition because of financial hardships.
According to reports, these students’ savings were completely spent by Nigeria’s economic crisis, and their financial difficulties were exacerbated when the university changed their payment plan from seven installments to three installments.
According to a local food charity, students from Nigeria who are struggling financially now make up 75% . As a result, several students got letters from the Home Office directing them to leave the UK, missed tuition payments, and were prohibited from continuing their education.
A representative for the institution clarified in May that failure to pay tuition fees was a breach of the conditions of the visa sponsorship, necessitating the university to report the students to the Home Office.
For some impacted students, the university has recently changed its mind and allowed them to finish their education.
According to a spokesman, a relief fund has been set up to help a few students with unforeseen travel expenses so they may go back to Nigeria. Additionally, the university has given certain students the choice to finish their coursework remotely from Nigeria or to come back to the UK at a later time.
What they’re saying
According to the BBC, the spokesman stated, “We are working with a small group who need to return to their home country and are opening an international relief fund for this group only to offer additional financial support for these unforeseen travel costs.
“However, it has been claimed that a few of the impacted students have filed legal appeals against the deportation decision.
Bottom Line
This situation raises questions about international student support systems and the impact of currency fluctuations on educational opportunities. It remains to be seen how the legal challenges will be resolved.
