MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has described the decision by KNUST authorities to defer the courses of some six thousand students for non-payment of fees as harsh and inconsiderate, giving the prevailing economic condition in the country. In a tweet, Mr. Ablakwa called on the Ministry of Education to ”urgently intervene and save the future of the students”.
He added that the Government should instruct student support schemes such as the Scholarship Secretariat, Students’ Loan Trust, GNPC Scholarship Foundation, COCOBOD Scholarship and GETFund to extend immediate relief to the students. Mr. Ablakwa urged affected students from his Constituency to contact him for assistance.
He noted that it is time for Parliament to revisit the earlier motion calling for a special subsidy on fees particularly for needy tertiary students.
Student woes
About six thousand students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KNUST have had to defer their courses in line with University regulations for non-payment of school fees. This number constitutes about eight per cent of the University’s total student population of 85 thousand. Early this year, the University extended the payment date from March 21, 2022 to April 11, 2022 to allow the students to honour their obligation. However, as of last week when mid-semester examinations had started, the over 6000 students had reneged on their promises following an earlier plea. In an interview with Correspondent Nicholas Osei-Wusu in Kumasi, the University Relations Officer, Dr. Daniel Norris Bekoe, said in total, the concerned students owe the University GHC 55 Million.
The University Relations Officer alleged that some of the students misapplied their school fees.
