Some non-residential students of Koforidua Technical University (KTU) say private hostel operators are demanding payment of hostel fees, despite not occupying their facilities for three months after Universities were closed down by government over Coronavirus pandemic.
According to the students, the private hostel operators’ argument are that payments made for accommodation for the second semester expired last month although they didn’t fully occupy due to coronavirus pandemic therefore must pay for the current period they are occupying.
“With regards to our hostel fee, right now we are having a little bit of challenge. Our Hostel managers are coming out with new ideas that we paid for our two semesters and not for the whole year (12months) so if we have gone to the house for Covid-19 and we have spent three months in the house which actually our second semester was supposed to end on May”.
“So if you are reporting in June that means you have two months ahead of you that we have to pay again. Although we were not at our hostels for the past three months they are still demanding for the money and that is a big challenge to us ”
Out of the 3,6000 final year students expected to report on campus,only 600 are residential students.
The students want the government to provide some relief grants to pay the additional hostel fees incurred by no fault of theirs to avert mass eviction by private hostel managers.
Lectures started slowly Monday, June 15, 2020 in Koforidua Technical University (KTU) with fewer number of students who reported on the first day of reopening.
A visit to the campus observed hand hygiene facilities fixed at vantage areas and the entrance of lecture halls and administrative offices as well as main entrance of the campus.
Students and staff compulsorily wash their hands while temperature checked before allowed entry to the campus, lecture halls and any administrative office.
Nii Isaac Nii Annang Mensah Livingston -Registrar told Kasapa News sitting arrangements have been made compliance with social distancing protocols while large classes divided into batches.
He said a medical team and Covid-19 preventive team have been set up to take the necessary medical interventions and enforce preventive measures respectively.
Faculties have also revised lecture time tables making it more convenient for Lecturers and students.
Schools and Universities were closed down on March 15, 2020 by President Akufo Addo as a measure to contain the spread of Coronavirus pandemic but the President ordered that final year students could return to school beginning June 15, 2020 to complete their courses.
Source: Kasapafmonline.com/102.5FM/Kojo Ansah
