Conversion of Single-Sex Halls not Solution to Accommodation Problems – UG Vice-Chancellor
Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ebenezer Oduro-Owusu has indicated that the university management has no plans to convert its only two single-sex halls of residence into mixed ones in a bid to solve its inability to accommodate more students on campus.
Prof. Oduro-Owusu made this remark in a media engagement after Saturday’s matriculation ceremony, which saw thousands of newly admitted students of the university officially welcomed to the university community.
Delivering his speech on Saturday, Professor Oduro-Owusu admitted that the university continues to struggle in accommodating a larger number of the students it receives every year.
Prof. Oduro Owusu explained that although the University has made strides in increasing its intake, the deficit in accommodation is quite disturbing since a mammoth number of admitted students are still frustrated over their inability to secure a hall of residence on campus.
“Providing admission for all freshmen and women admitted on the Legon campus has always been a challenge….out of 11,216 registered freshmen, 7,289 are entitled to residence. However, only 2,488 representing 34% of the resident-entitled students have been accommodated.
Out of this figure, 1,227 (49%) are females, and 1,261 (51%) are males” Professor Oduro-Owusu explained
Management of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, in an attempt to solve its accommodation challenge for students, converted all of its single-sex halls into mixed ones.
However, speaking on whether the University of Ghana management will tow a similar line to address it accommodation problem, Professor Oduro-Owusu said “the University of Ghana has no proper justification to come up with the idea”
Prof. Oduro-Owusu however hinted that the university management may consider that option should the need arise.
“I’m not saying that it cannot come on but so far, we have no proper justification to come up with the idea and it is not part of our party for now.” he added.
The University of Ghana has five traditional halls, out of which the Commonwealth and Volta Halls are the only single sex halls.
