Students in private rented accommodation at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology(KNUST), have called on management and relevant stakeholders to resolve the difficulties with the exorbitant hostel fees charged by private hostel owners.
Students of the University who spoke to Thriller News GH about the situation said they are reeling under the ruthless hostel fee increments being charged by hostel managers every year especially the fee increments for the next academic year amidst the impact of covid-19 pandemic yet management of the University is silenced about the situation.
“Accommodation challenges in KNUST have been an annual ritual, yet the SRC and other stakeholders of the university do not pay attention to it, let alone to think of solutions to this problem especially in this time of emergency”, a student complained.
The best academic motivation for any student anywhere is to have suitable accommodation facilities with conducive environment to facilitate learning. Hence, The students have taken it on the various social media platforms with the hastag #FixHostelPricesNow to call on relevant stakeholders to help address the issue.
Nana Aba, one of the most popular TV personality who has been hit hard by the plight of these KNUST students has joined the conversation and in response quetioned the sensitivity of university authorities who seemingly do not care about the situation.
.@KNUSTGH whom did you lose your sensitivity to? You expect students to pay this much for accommodation? Do you know the times we are in? Don’t be ridiculous.
We shall continue tomorrow
— nana aba (@thenanaaba) July 14, 2021
So @KNUSTGH what your students have been asked to pay as hostel fees no, are you happy with it?
— nana aba (@thenanaaba) July 14, 2021
As the issue continue to trend on on Twitter, Ghanaian actor and politician, John Dumelo has also added his voice and questioned the reason for the high hostel prices in the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.
In an interview with some students of the University, they accused Hostel Managers operating within the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology vicinity of taking advantage of the students challenges in securing accommodation to charge astronomical prices and increase existing hostel fees illogically.
A second year Student complained “I paid 3500 Ghana cedis for two in a room hostel accommodation but as at now, the hostel manager has increased the price for next academic year which is 4000 Ghana cedis, that is 500ghc increase which is so abnormal”. He added that the hostels weren’t also ready to deliver on all the facilities they promised students on paying for the rooms.
The surprising thing is that, most of the hostels that charge exorbitant prices don’t meet the requirements as expected of them, Most of them are taking advantage of the dire need of accommodation and its unfortunate that it seems the school is not bothered about this increment,A student bemoaned.
Another aggrieved level 300 student said the fees charged by the hostels threatened his ability to source funding from his parents to pay his school fees and he is more scared about the his fate in this covid-19 period when school officially resumes.
I am not the only one being fended for by my parents. I have other siblings and if I am suppose to take a Four thousand and five hundred Ghana cedis just for my accommodation, how can I get some money for fees and how can my parents meet the needs of my other siblings? He inquired with frustration.
A second year mechanical engineering student told Thriller News GH in an interview; “I want to know if it is the sole responsibility of the school administration to provide hostels for students to live in? If it is the responsibility of the school and government, then I want to say that we are not being treated fairly, as compared to other Universities.
Some foreign students are also unhappy with the huge amounts they are made to pay for very poor hostel facilities although they believe a demonstration is not the way to go.
An international student, who pays three thousand and five hundred dollars for a room shared with another international student, said they weren’t receiving any service worth the money they were paying.
“We entered the room only to meet two beds and a fan. That’s all there is in the room; No floor mats, the bathroom is bad and we are paying three thousand and five hundred for a room. The room is bad, it is empty and dirty and it is nothing worth the money we are paying, he said.
Thriller News GH further engaged another Nigerian student who pays four thousand Ghana cedis per semester, according to her, she feels intimitated that she only took the exorbitant prices as one of the hazards of living in a foreign country.
Many students have mulled that maybe the only reason to solve the challenge of high hostel prices is to demonstrate to the authorities.
A Ghanaian student who offers Actuarial Science felt the demonstration for prices was quite misplaced as according to him, it would make much sense if they call on management and other stakeholders to come to their aid.
The issue of accommodation on any University campus is one of the important factors that ought to be considered, as far as the academic success of a student is concerned.
The students of the University have therefore called on management, government and the various stakeholders to help resolve the high hostel prices on campus.
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Source: www.thrillernewsgh.com