Male undergraduates’ hostel crisis hits South Eastern University
View(s):The South Eastern University of Sri Lanka (SEUSL) was this week hit by a hostel controversy, with students claiming that some of the male students were to be housed away from the campus, despite availability of accommodation within.
Some 120 students said they have not been given hostel facilities within the university premises, despite being promised such accommodation by the administrative authorities there.
Since July 1, the students have remained within the University premises to get the authorities to allocate them hostel facilities within the premises, for which there are adequate buildings, the students say.
Instead, they have been asked to reside in a hostel several miles away.
Higher Education Ministry Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navratna had informed the President’s office in mid-June, that all measures had been taken to settle the hostel issue within the university.
The students had earlier drawn the attention of the President’s office to the lack of hostel facilities for them.
Consequent to a query pertaining to the issue, Acting Vice Chancellor of the University had informed the Higher Education Ministry last month, that all students would be provided accommodation within the campuses.
In a letter dated June 5, addressed to Assistant Secretary (Administration) of the Ministry A.S.P. Weerasuriya, the Acting Vice Chancellor said that the University has taken the initiative to accommodate the students within the premises, with the limited resources available, where old buildings are being renovated to house the students.
There is a dire need for inhouse hostel facilities for students of this campus, because there are few boarding houses in close proximity to the university and transport too is an issue.
The Acting Vice Chancellor added that the unexpectedly high student intake had compounded the hostel issue.
Director- Students Support Services and Welfare, M.A.M. Sameem told Education Times that, as a policy, they provided accommodation only for first and final-year students. “However, since the students are from difficult areas and due to difficulties in communicating, as this is a predominantly Muslim area, we have decided to provide accommodation in Ninthavur, which is seven kilometres away from the university’.
Students claim that it was a ploy by the authorities to get the male students out to Ninthavur.
The male students on Thursday moved to Ninthavur, after authorities threatened to stop lectures, but have demanded that they get a solution to the problem by tomorrow.
Follow @timesonlinelk
comments powered by Disqus