The Education Minister, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh has clarified the government’s stance on the conversion of some all-male halls of residence at public universities.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh explained that a recent letter from the Education Ministry on the conversion of halls at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) emphasized the government’s position on the conversion policy.
Speaking to Citi News, the Minister said the decision to revert the hall to their original all-male position, ultimately lies with the University Council.
“Government position has been well stated. Ultimately it is the University Council that decides. I will not change government’s policy on the whim. Government has stated its aversion to the policy and that policy, in as much as it affects any hall is a policy the government is against. That is government’s position. Probably people do not read well.
“Government talked about its aversion to the policy. I wrote to the Chairman of the University Council, expressing government’s position on the mixed hall policy and it is about the policy, it is not about Katanga,” the Minister explained.
The government had urged authorities of the school to reconsider their decision of turning all-male Katanga Hall into a mixed one.
Mr. Prempeh in a letter to the Chairman of the University Council on Thursday explained that the move is “To preserve a peaceful and conducive environment for academic work and cordial relationship in the University.”
The KNUST Registrar, Andrews Kwasi Boateng, on Thursday called for calm on the university campus following rising tensions after the conversion of some traditionally single-sex halls into mixed halls.
He said the university is not insensitive to concerns raised by stakeholders concerning the conversions.
Mr. Kwasi Boateng assured the university community as well as the general public that, the Chancellor is currently studying a committee report on the development.