KNUST: Vice Chancellor Reveals Plan of Constructing 24,000 Capacity Hostel
Vice Chancellor of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Prof. Kwasi Obiri-Danso has revealed that the university has succeeded in giving a contract to notable construction companies to build new hostels to accommodate the increasing students population on campus.
Currently, the total students population in KNUST stands at 43,757 out of which 28,025 are males and 15,732 females.
The university operates an in-out-out-out policy on residential accommodation for admitted students where first year students(including foreigners) are only accommodated on campus in six major traditional halls with two ‘all-male’ halls and one all-female hall – a system which took effect from the 2013/2014 academic year.
Continuing students are required to make their own residential arrangements with the University’s halls of residence and approved hostels outside campus.
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology has over the last decade been facing a big challenge of housing its students. Over half of the student populace of KNUST reside outside its campus.
A recent decision by the University to convert the two male halls into mixed sex halls from 2018/2019 academic year with a reason of increasing female population and ensure their security on campus has been strongly opposed by both current students and alumni who have suggested other alternative means of addressing what the University seeks to achieve which includes building new hostels since the University sits on several plots of land which can be put to use to salvage the situation.
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Speaking to members of convocation during his maiden state of the university address, Prof Obiri stated that the University through the Land Use Committee has allocated plots of land to:
Shaaba Enterprise to build 2000 Bed spaces hostelSafi Properties to construct 1000 Bed spaces at Kwabenya on Accra and campus (Alumni)Victory Lines – 1000 Bed spacesChinese Company 20,000 Bed spaces
All of which will be built and managed by the companies for certain periods upon completion.
Credit: essienlive.com
