KNUST medical students are ‘steps backward’ – Students cry foul

The ongoing impasse between students and management of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is having a serious toll on academic activities, with medical students being one of the hardest hit.

The Federation of Ghana Medical Students’ Associations (FGMSA) is therefore calling for speedy resolution to the crisis, to enable its members complete “a very packed curriculum…within a short period”.

As of Sunday, November 11, the university remained closed as government and stakeholders fail to find a common ground to address the impasse.

Government ordered immediate closure of the school late last month after a violent demonstration by students over what they called management’s high-handedness.

Meanwhile, government’s own timetable to reopen the university for academic work to resume has been missed due to standoff between government and stakeholders including lecturers and other working groups.

The medical students in a statement bemoaned the effect the closure is having on them.

“The closure of school is retarding academic work and putting them steps backward compared to their mates in the other universities.

“We therefore urge the stakeholders to kindly consider this and the many other disadvantages the closure is causing to the students and reopen school now,” the Association remarked.

It therefore urged government to meet the other stakeholders halfway “to prevent further loss of valuable school time which when wasted, cannot be regained.”

“The good education of our students is essential in building a strong nation so the resolution of the various issues will aid the unhindered continuance of academic work and ultimately end up in a building a good human resource.”