The Vice President of the University of Ghana Students’ Representative Council (SRC), Jeffrey Adu-Yeboah (Jaylit), has urged university management to revisit the implementation of the in-out-out-out residential policy, warning that it could weaken hall leadership and student governance.
Speaking on Campus Exclusive on Radio Univers, Jaylit recounted discussions at a recent residential board meeting where concerns were raised about how Junior Common Room (JCR) executives will be selected under the new system.
“The response that we got from management was that Commonwealth has been practising a particular system of selecting JCR leaders for the hall for two years now, and other halls are willing to learn from them and practice the same from next academic year. I was concerned about why student leaders are now being appointed by hall management.”
He highlighted that the policy’s full implementation will risk handing the entire JCRs to Level 100 students who are new to campus life.
“It is going to be very difficult for the next administration, especially when the academic year begins in January and the 100s are only now coming in. Before they even have leaders in place, the General Assembly must be formed with JCR executives and hall representatives. This is not going to be the normal,” he cautioned.
While acknowledging that some first-year leaders have shown maturity, Jaylit emphasised that experience is crucial.
“Leadership is not about age or level, but there should be some level of experience. Ideally, a student should serve under the JCR before becoming president or executive.”
The vice president stressed that management must re-evaluate the impact of the policy, which followed the violent clashes between Commonwealth and Mensah Sarbah halls in 2022.
“Management could go back to the drawing board and analyse the years this system has been practised. If it has not had a positive impact, then we can return to the old system,” he said.
The SRC vice president charged the incoming administration to establish talks with management to address the issue.
“The onus lies on the next administration to analyse what is being practised and advise management. If the new system doesn’t work, we should go back to the old. Governance in our halls cannot be left entirely in the hands of Level 100 students.”
The in-out-out-out policy, introduced in the 2022/2023 academic year, was a response to violent clashes in some halls. It requires all continuing students from Level 200 to 400 to vacate the traditional halls, leaving the spaces for only Level 100 and graduate students. The policy is expected to take full effect across all halls by the 2025/2026 academic year.
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Story by Michelle Lartey|univers.ug.edu.gh
