Tensions are rising between students of the College of Community Health Nursing and the Dean of Students at Nkanchina in the Kpandai District of the Northern Region.The agitation follows an incident in which a student reported a missing phone to the Dean, Isaaka Godwin. In response, the Dean allegedly assembled the entire student body and instructed each student to pay a levy of twenty cedis to replace the phone.
Students say they pleaded for the amount to be reduced, but the Dean reportedly declined, insisting that every student must pay or face punishment.
According to the students, the twenty-cedi levy is a financial burden for many who cannot afford it. On Friday afternoon, the Dean allegedly ordered students to suspend academic activities and carry out a punishment for refusing to pay the levy, insisting that they still complete the punishment and pay the money afterwards.
In an interview with Channel One News, some students, speaking on condition of anonymity, called on authorities to intervene.
A student said, “He’s trying to abuse our rights as a student body and also the SRC board. We pleaded with him to at least reduce the amount that we have to pay. And he said he will never, ever do that.”
Another student added, “We were pleading just to reduce the money for us, for us to contribute and to just reach the amount of the funds. If the money cannot be reduced, I will not be able to afford the money.”
When Channel One News contacted the Dean of Students, he declined to comment, stating that the appropriate channels should be followed. Efforts to reach the principal of the college were unsuccessful, as calls to him went unanswered.
