A letter to my New VC. Lamentations of KNUST Student

By | July 25, 2016
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We welcome you into your new role as the Vice Chancellor of the most prestigious University in Ghana (Forget the noise makers).
Though we were sad to actually come into terms with the news that Prof Ellis will be departing this noble office, we were equally appeased that a great man like you has been chosen to succeed him. Congratulations sir. Among other things, we have been told you are an action oriented man – And a highly motivated vibrant man
I know you very poised for the task ahead and very charged to deliver to the good people of KNUST your much taunted result driven credentials.
I have sampled four (4) important and critically relevant problems we face on campus, and thought it wise to bring them to your attention. Should you assume office in August? This hopefully may serve as a working guide.
For the things I want to touch on…

Please reduce the bureaucracy and needless bottlenecks we face on campus

Sir, I don’t get it when I have to write series of letters and conduct follow ups and sometimes pay tips before I get classroom space at CCB for meetings on weekends.
For all I know, the primary customers of the university are its students. Lecturers and any category of persons employed are secondary. Without students will there ever be the need for lectures, TEWU members or any class of organization?
Simply,
No.
So why are students treated with so much disrespect and sawed – off reverence when we try get access to university facilities to use for student – related activities, which necessarily might not be academic.
Please fix the broken link, the system is just so tough for us, we cannot live on campus whilst fighting just to get access to university facilities like classrooms.
The question is, who were those facilities built for in the first place?
Mr. Vice chancellor, kindly check that up for us. The Estate Division and all Property Managers must be oriented to prioritize student needs above their personal ego.

We need modern day infrastructure

Mr. Vice chancellor, modern day universities learn in modern day facilities. Let me admit that, you have a very huge task ahead of you when it comes to the universities status and its infrastructure issues.
Oh yes, other universities like the University of Ghana have made giant strides in providing infrastructure, both residential and academic user facilities. It therefore makes less little in trying to achieve same.( This is not to say there aren’t modern facilities on campus )
Frankly, we can allude to the fact there some fantastic projects on going, and some near- completion, like the new Pharmacy block and the various pavement projects massively ongoing.
But those are just not enough. Interestingly the most populous faculty which happens to be the Social Sciences are the worst hit. They struggle for space at the CCB and sometimes have to fight tooth and nail to get chairs. Please sir, will you allow this grotesque scene to happen under your tenure? I hope not.
KNUST needs to witness a total infrastructural upgrade, and I am just hopeful and positive that, we may witness that during your tenure…Insha allah.

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Modern Universities Operate 24hrs library System.

This has been a sad old story, and it is my time to talk about it. Sir, it is sad and worrying that the Kwame University of Science and Technology, a school of such great repute and stature does not provide its student A 24HR LIBRARY SESSION. Of course we boast of having the best brains, yes. But, how do we sustain such brains when we have no access to the library at all times, that will give us the leisure to walk in and carry out our research and learn.
Once again let me painfully say that, our brothers in the capital, The University of Ghana are already having a 24hr library system. In fact, all modern day universities all around the world operate such system. And so why not KNUST? The argument about the school not having enough human resource to man the facility has been there and repeated since the days of Abraham. It is time for a change, and we seek that change from you, sir.

Convert Unity Hall into a mix Hall.

Sir,I know this would hit you on the face as nerve racking, and quintessentially arduous. But then I know you are no stranger to the campus politics that has for epochs existed between Conti and Katanga.
Just last semester, a ceratin butchery story comes to mind, and what about the needless tensions that comes during campus elections, and the many other clashes that has been witnessed amongst these halls.
Sir, this would be a good time to convert one of the halls into a mixed one, which might cease the fire and tension to a level, as done in UCC to the mighty Atlantic Hall.
Why Unity hall?
Unity hall because it’s a well-known fact Katanga carries the KNUST brand more illustriously as compared to UNITY, both in alumni members and current crop of students.
The brand Katanga projects KNUST. And so therefore the need to keep katanga and then convert Conti.

Can we ever find a better way of distributing our graduation Academic gowns?

You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. The truth in this issue at hand though is that, KNUST has refused to innovate and embraced the modern ways of best practices in so many respect.
A picture emanated the other day and I saw a large number of students in queues in front of the Great Hall waiting in turns to get their academic gowns for graduation. It was pathetic and obviously not the best.
Elsewhere academic gowns are registered for and ordered online. Very beautiful, advanced and stress free procedure. Student’s need not to go queue and fight their way through to get a piece of the gown they have paid for.
Can we innovate? Can we progress? Can we do what is done in modern day institutions?
Mr. VC. The torch for institutional change and a clamp down on archaic and mundane practice should be brazenly inculcated on the university system as a policy.
Help us to change for the better.
And make TECH great again.
Thanks.

By : Asase Corage Komla
Final year KNUST.
0545101172

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