Ranking Member on Parliament’s Education Committee, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe has urged the management of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology to reconsider its decision to abolish the JCR system.
Management of the University announced the scrapping of the JCR system following a recent violent clash between members of the Katanga and Conti halls on campus.
The decision essentially means there will be no election of hall leaders by the students as it used to be in the University.
But speaking to GHOne News’ Serwaa Amihere on Newsroom on Monday, the Akatsi North MP said the scrapping of the JCR system is harsh and not the best solution to curbing violence and misconduct amongst students in the Universities.
“The abolishing of the JCR system to me is a very harsh decision which the University authorities must review because it is an interface between students leadership and the University. So for me, it should have been a suspension of the JCR system while a thorough review and redefining of the JCR system takes place.”
“Abolishing it means you are not creating any interface between yourself [the University authorities] and the students. So I feel strongly that the University authorities must review its decision so that student leadership can be strong on our campuses,” the MP urged.
Mr. Nortsu-Kotoe, however, condemned the violent clashes and further urged the University authorities to ensure that those involved are not spared.
He said “I condemn the violence that took place on the University campus. I don’t support it in any way and I feel strongly that banning the JCR system would not be a resolution to the problem in its entirety. The students must be held for whatever action they take as the leadership of the JCR or individual students who take part in violent activities on the University campuses.”
Apart from the clashes at KNUST, the University of Ghana, Legon also recorded violent clashes among students this month resulting in damage to properties while some students sustained injuries.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/103.5fm/Faisel Abdul-Iddrisu
