Former Deputy Minister of Education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called on the authorities of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to immediately reverse the conversion of the school’s single-sex halls to mixed ones.
According to him, the conceptualisation and implementation “have been very faulty” because there were “signs of resistance”, yet the management of the university failed to engage all the relevant stakeholders before introducing the policy.
“This policy needs to be suspended, clearly, it is unpopular, it has not been implemented well”.
Mr. Ablakwa, who was speaking on Asempa FM Tuesday, 23 October 2018, was of the view that the policy might have been the remote cause of the recent violent demonstration by the students, which resulted in the destruction of 30 cars and 10 motorbikes.
Students and alumni of Katanga and Unity halls had resisted the conversion policy fiercely to the extent that they filed a lawsuit against it, but the management of the university went ahead to admit females in the two halls after the court throw out an injunction application pending the determination of the substantive case.
The management of the university also issued a directive that there will no longer be vigils and gatherings to sing ‘jama’ songs which are traditionally held in Katanga and Conti halls, known as ‘morale’.
The final trigger for the demonstration was the arrest and manhandling of 10 students and one alumnus on Friday by the school’s internal security. They were later released.
Mr. Ablakwa said the conversion policy is not critical to teaching and learning in the university.
He finds no problem with having single-sex halls and pointed out that what the management of the university should have done was to introduce a policy of infrastructure expansion to accommodate more students on campus.
“You heard the student leaders, they were very vociferous, and in university management, you need your student leaders, you need the student body, you need the alumni, these are key stakeholders.
“In all sincerity, I think that the Professor Obiri-Danso-led team could have done a better job in terms of conceptualising this whole policy,” he added.
He said the conversion of Africa Hall, an all-female hall into a mixed one, too, defeats the reasoning behind the policy, which the management had always argued was meant for the accommodation of more female students.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu Constituency further blamed some government officials for fueling the situation by endorsing the unpopular policy.
“The government cannot be absolved because the Minister in charge of Tertiary Education, Professor Yankah, went to the university [and endorsed it]”.
Mr. Ablakwa, however, condemned the violence and destruction of property by the students during the protest.
“We all have to be bold to say that our younger brothers and sisters should have been controlled and they should not have taken that option. Violence should never be an option,” he stressed.
Source: classfmonline.com
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I am really yet to come to terms with the reason for the conversion of UNITY and UNIVERSITY(Katanga) Halls to mixed halls. As a former continental(UNITY HALL MEMBER), I enjoyed the all males atmosphere, I specifically chose all males hall. Was African Hall also converted to a mixed one? The University council and the KNUST authorities must rethink their decision and allow the tradition of all males hall to continue.
Hon. Okudzeto kindly get it straight, KNUST is not a boys school, kindly grow up from that colonial mentality. Girls/Ladies have equal right to education and accommodation.
@SMH I see the same childishness displayed by the students in you. some ghanaians cannot express their opinions without insulting. if someone feels insulted the resultant reaction can be riot. Keep an open mind and stay mature to help keep our environment peaceful...the students felt they've been insulted and disrespected by the school authorities and security personnel and things went out of hands...if you keep insulting what are you achieving...grow up!
When people talk about traditional hall I am lost for words. What good has the traditional hall or whatever its called brought to the university apart from the yearly escalation and violent clashes between the so called traditional male halls (University and Unity halls) Let anyone who cares to learn go and check the cost of those clashes. If the academic board and the university council headed by the Asantehene as Chancellor have seen it fit to change the status quo why are we not happy? Must we support the f-0_0-li--s--h--ness to continue every year in the name of male traditional halls non---sense???? Then we have ***barred word*** politicians who knows next to nothing about the issues come to stoke unnecessary fire. The university has a management team. They have their rules. They determine which hall to make male of female or mixed. The students are there to learn. If they don't like the mixed halls they should apply to a university that satisfies their dreams. Nobody forced them to write an acceptance letter when they read the conditions and the regulations. If they are not happy with the conditions no one is forcing them to be there. They should just get out...and out politicians please ***barred word*** if you have nothing sen--s__ible to say.
i dont really know why the other universities management dont learn from university of Ghana management. look at legon as it stands has large population of students than any university in Ghana here, yet they are able to accomodate students from level 100 to 400 without facing any infrastructural challenges. And the last time i visited the school, they were still expanding their infrastructures, indeed gradually they a building a world class university.this is what we called leadership. unlike the other universities where you will be accommodated in first year and in the next subsequent years, you will be out to look for your own accommodation, sooo sad. legon will continue to be the best university in Ghana. just humble yourself and learn from them
For once,I support you 1000%. The motive behind these hall conversions are flawed - there are ulterior motives behind it. If you want to increase female intake, why making africa hall also mixed? They wanted to make tertiary education like elementary schools where kids are made to follow rules and regulations without any say..it's sad! African leadership mentality at it best...always b1goted..no negotiation and intolerant of others views/opinion...shaamee!!!
Very true honorable, they want to make the university like primary school. I am a V-mate and love our tradition, traits and values. Truth will always stand
Kofi, you are wise. If we're not careful our children will end up like Ablakwa.
The "political scavengers". They jump to everywhere a "political meat" is decay-ing so they can consume. No love for Ghana. No pursuit of a national cause. They're in kumasi once again. And they eating the decay-ing meat on the KNUST campus.