In a recent development, the Council of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has abolished the Junior Common Room (JCR) structure in the six (6) Traditional Halls. This decision is on the back of disturbances between University Hall and Unity Hall and has triggered conversations on management’s approach to resolving the challenges, which undoubtedly leaves much to be desired.
In a release dated August 26, 2022, the University Council opined amongst others that it had abolished the JCR system with effect from the 2023/2024 academic year, indefinitely suspended Hall and SRC Week Celebrations, and indicated that students who organized or participated in ‘morale and procession would be summarily dismissed. Additionally, names and pictures of rusticated and dismissed students were to be widely published in the dailies. Although it is obvious that the university is only inviting a barrage of legal suits, let me digress a bit into how the University Management has systemically tried to reduce the power students wield.
First, let me hasten to add that students are the biggest stakeholders in the university. Without students, neither the Vice Chancellor nor the janitor at Africa Hall will have a job tomorrow. Against this backdrop, decisions of the University must always safeguard the supreme interest of students. In the last decade, the population of KNUST has significantly grown, a development that occasioned a shift in the university’s accommodation policy from In-Out-Out-In (students spent their first and final years on campus and their second and third years off campus) to In-Out-Out-Out (where students only spent their first years on campus and their remaining years off campus). As a result, more than half of the student population reside off-campus and there are instances where some first year students are unable to gain accommodation on campus. Except for Unity Hall that has capacity to admit two thousand (2,000) students, the remaining five (5) Halls accommodate about one thousand and two hundred (1,200) students running into approximately eight thousand (8,000) spaces on campus. Given that nearly twenty-five (25,000) thousand students were admitted in KNUST for the 2022/2023 academic year, the University may soon be compelled to run an Out-Out-Out-Out policy as it is unable to accommodate fifty percent (50%) of first year students on campus.
Between 2012-2017, several cases of robberies and rape were recorded off-campus around the Ayeduase, Kotei and Kentinkrono enclave (Armed robbers attack students’ hostel in Kumasi – Graphic Online, Armed robbers storm KNUST (ghanaweb.com), Armed robbers raid KNUST supermarket – Ghana Business News, A Message to the Vice Chancellor: Dreams of a KNUST Student | myJCR) but it appeared Management did not consider the safety of students off-campus a priority given the frequency of attacks on students and efforts invested by Management to address the security challenges. Rather unfortunately, a former Vice Chancellor of the University is on record to have said that he could not do anything about the situation of the students living outside the University’s main campus as it was beyond his jurisdiction. Following persistent probe by the media, the same person intimated that some journalists who vehemently advocated for the safety and welfare of students were illiterates who had gotten the opportunity to sit on air because their relatives had funds to establish media houses. So, for a very long time, the University’s first approach to handling issues regarding students has been intimidation. However, I will always give credit to Dr. Kofi Owusu Daaku, former Dean of Students of KNUST. Unlike what we see today, he did not have a one-size-fits-all approach to dealing with issues. He was an excellent leader who will always engage no matter the situation. Prior to Hall Week Celebrations, he would often invite the Traditional Councils of Conti and Katanga and plan with them on how to smoothly organize and enjoy their celebrations. During selected events, he is often spotted amongst students engaging in hearty conversations. We had our issues with Uncle Kofi, but we loved him regardless. Above all else, he did not abhor dissenting opinions. His open-door approach was the reason why many planned demonstrations, particularly the one regarding distribution of KNUST @ 60 souvenirs were averted.
Without pausing to think, I could bet with my head that the October 22, 2018, demonstration would have never happened under the leadership of Dr. Daaku. I say this because Uncle Kofi would never turn a blind eye to the plight of students and would have taken measures to stop or better still prevent abuse of students by KNUST security personnel. That said, I would like to unequivocally indicate that I do not subscribe to violence of any kind in addressing disputes. In this regard, a condemn recent violent clashes that have characterized rival Halls on various campuses. As a believer in the rule of law and the tenets of democracy, I am an ardent advocate for dialogue and the philosophy of non-violence in resolving an impasse.
source:3news
