The Public Relations Officer of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr. Daniel Norris Bekoe, has revealed that about 22 percent of the 6,000 students have rushed to pay their fees following management’s decision to defer students with fees arrears.
Dr. Bekoe disclosed that the recent development proves the school’s argument that these students had the money but deliberately decided not to pay. He averred that management notwithstanding, acknowledges the fact that some students genuinely don’t have money to pay their fees.
“As of yesterday, about 22 percent of the affected students managed to go the bank to pay. In terms of foreign or international students, we had about 23 percent also managing to pay. We have right from the beginning of the semester educated them enough that, if you have a challenge, go through the office of the provost and state why you are in need and the appropriate channel will be made available to support.”
Dr. Daniel Norris Bekoe
According to Dr. Bekoe, if someone decides that for three months into the semester, they would not make the appropriate payment and fail to register their course, it indicates their unpreparedness to become students.
“I know that, some of them who are genuinely needy have approached the SRC and the Dean of students and those people will be given some support. So, that is the development so far.”
Dr. Daniel Norris Bekoe
Students to benefit from SRC support
Dr. Bekoe further disclosed that about 2,000 students have been placed on a list to benefit from support from the Dean of students to at least make some part payment. “It comes from the SRC dues which the other students have paid. The fees the students have paid, a portion is deducted for SRC activities. It’s from that fund they want to take some money to support the people who don’t have.”
The KNUST PRO emphasized that the support being given to the needy students is not a loan but just a form of support by the SRC. He, however, stated that the move is not sustainable because it cannot be made an option to cushion student for the non-payment of fees in subsequent academic years.
Students engage in betting
Dr. Norris Bekoe intimated that the students engage in betting and gambling activities and as results do not pay their fees. He stated that sometimes, when people try to speak as if management of the school is callous, he doesn’t get it.
“It will amaze you and I know you know what they do with the money. Some of them live in luxury buying expensive iPhones and going beyond their limit. We have students who have cars and when we vacate they can’t take them home because they won’t be able to tell their parents how they got those cars. They rent hostels and are able to pay for them but they tell you they do not have money for school fees. “
Dr. Daniel Norris Bekoe
The KNUST PRO therefore called on the parents of students across all universities to ensure they pay attention to the welfare of their wards in school. He admonished them to take their wards academic progress also very serious.
“There are many parents who have never bothered to find out where [their wards] stay for the four years that they are in school. We have a lot of students who come to school, they don’t study, they are not serious students and when they get to a certain level and see that the GPA is below the average, they stop and then reapply.”
Dr. Daniel Norris Bekoe
Read Also: AfCFTA: Women-led MSMEs Bemoaned High Taxes In Harnessing Benefits
