The Public Relations officer of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Dr Norris Bekoe has rubbished assertions of modification of the Junior Common Room (JCR) system. According to Dr Bekoe the University Council will not change its decision due to the negative repercussions they have had to endure over time.
Speaking in an interview on 3FM Tuesday, August 30, Dr Bekoe explained that the constant presence of the police and military on the university campus affected the academic environment of the school.
“The decision of the university council to cancel or abolish the JCR system is long overdue. Since 2018 we’ve ceased affiliating student halls for presidents. The traditional halls of residence are always reserved for first year students. Even a fraction of them, not all of them. So when you stay there for one year and then you go off to any of the hostels around the university, you don’t pay affiliation fees, dues.
“I don’t know why somebody can say that he has the legitimacy to come and contest for a JCR executive position. It’s long overdue, we have been dancing around this place and it is time that the council decided that let’s cut of the head of the place perpetually and have freedom.
“On weekends, every time, if you come to KNUST you see Police presence, military presence, is that an academic environment or a war torn zone. It’s a place of learning, we don’t need the security presence every time. We need to have some finality to this issue and have some peace within the university so that serious academic work can take place,” Dr Bekoe maintained.
Responding to concerns that the university is going against its statutes if it abolishes the JCR system, Dr Bekoe affirmed that the university’s decision was final and would not relent in upholding it.
“…I don’t know what they’re talking about. The decision of the university council is supreme. The university council is the highest decision making body of the university. At any time when they think that there’s something that has to be done to ensure their peace of mind and then the core duty for which the university is set up is ensured, the council has the power to do so.
“I can tell on authority that the university council will not change its decision on this matter because it is a bad thing they have been dancing around with and it is time to cut of the head.” He concluded.
The University council on Friday released a statement after an emergency meeting to abolish the JCR system – meaning that elections of students for hall executives will no longer be held.
Meanwhile, hallweek and SRC week celebrations have been suspended indefinitely following clashes between residents of Unity and University Hall leading to destruction of several properties on the campus.
Source: 3news.com|Ghana