GIJ Closed! -Students, Academic Affairs Face-Off

The Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) was yesterday temporarily closed down following disturbances by some irate students.

The students of the Institute which prides itself as the best Communication University were protesting the school management’s decision to bar them from writing exams.

According to them, authorities are preventing them from taking the end of semester exams on accusations of not paying their fees.

No Exams

Some of the students including those in their final year are also refuting claims they have not paid the fees.

Others insisted that they have paid fees in full but has had difficulties in accessing the registration platform while some who have also paid up to 80% of their fees but are also being denied access to write the examinations.

Some of the students, clad in red and black dresses amidst chants of Rector must go! Rector must go! Rector must go! are demanding that access is given to them to take part in the exams because it is their right.

The over three-hour disturbance led to the cancellation of the examination papers to be written by the final year, degree and diploma students on Sunday.

Even students who are not affected by the discrepancies have joined the protests in solidarity with their colleagues.

Armed police deployed to the campus to maintain calm as at press time yesterday were still at post to protect life and property at the University.

The students were in a dilemma as to the purpose of the law enforcers.

GIJ Closed

Addressing the students, Greater Accra Operations Commander of the Ghana Police Service, Chief Superintendent Kwesi Ofori said the school would be closed down.

He warned the students to pack out of the University ten minutes after the order but the students disagreed insisting, they would not comply.

It is however unclear GIJ would be opened this morning for the regular students numbering over three thousand to begin their end of semester exams this morning.

Court

Some of the students have also threatened legal action against the authorities if they are not allowed to write the papers. They believe it is a subtle attempt by the school to force them to pay extra to write the papers as re-sit papers.

Meanwhile, Joy News is learning that the leadership of the students is currently in a meeting with the Director of Academic Affairs.