Accra, April 24, GNA - The Residence Board of the University of Ghana, Legon on Monday gave the assurance that the University will continue to make efforts at expanding its stock of residential facilities through the involvement of private investors in its bid to ensure that a large percentage of students are provided with reasonable accommodation.
In the short term, the University expects hostel accommodation to increase by 4,000 beds by the beginning of the next academic year and by an additional 10,000 beds in the medium term.
The Board said it had disdussed and recommended a policy to cater for student accommodation on the Legon Campus, referred to as the "In-Out-Out-Out Policy"
With a student population of 28,480, it is simply impossible, with present resources, to offer accommodation to every student in the traditional halls of residence.
When this policy comes into force, it would mean that from the 2007/08 academic year the University would give priority to freshmen and women in the allocation of rooms and thus enable the new students to quickly settle into their new environment.
It said any vacancies in the traditional halls after new students have been accommodated will be offered to students at level 400 on a lottery basis.
Additionally, students at levels 200, 300 and 400 will continue to be offered accommodation in the University's hostels and other private hostels and other private hostels.
There are approximately 8,400 beds available in the traditional halls of residence and the University's own hostels. With expected freshmen enrolment of 5,000 students in the 2007/08 academic year, the University is confident that it can absorb all freshmen and freshwomen as well as provide accommodation for some final year students. The Board said, "this accommodation policy is what is practiced in all universities the world over, whenever on-campus accommodation facilities are insufficient for the student population, adding; "Here in Ghana, KNUST, UCC and UEW have already implemented this policy." "The University would also like to point out that the existing method of prioritizing accommodation for some categories of students such as sportsmen/women, medical students, international students, persons with disability, students with special medical conditions and student leaders as already pertains in the traditional halls of residence will continue.
"The University appeals to all stakeholders, especially students, parents and alumni for support and cooperation in the implementation of this new policy.
"It has come to the attention of the University that some disgruntled members of the public are goading the student body on to resort to demonstrations and acts of vandalism with a view to disrupting the end-of-semester examinations.
"The University would however, like to assure the student body and the general public that the end-of-semester examination will come on as scheduled.
"Any acts of vandalism on the campus will be severely dealt with," the Board stated.