IPS students express mixed feelings

...about conditions for reopening of school
Accra, Oct. 17, GNA - Students of Institute of Professional Studies (IPS) on Tuesday expressed mixed feelings about conditions introduced by the School's Authorities as pre-requisite for its reopening.

They are especially concerned about the demand of the Authorities that the students sign bonds before their readmission.

While Degree and Diploma in Business Studies students are ready to sign the bond, professional students pursuing the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and Association of Certified Chartered Accountant (ACCA) courses sharply disagree with the move.

Mr Harry Martey, IPS Local National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) President, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that it was unheard of for the students to be asked to sign a bond before they were taken back into the School adding they would "not sign anything that seeks to suspend the very constitution that brought me to power".

He described the move as tantamount to a coup d'etat and asked: "How can we claim to be practising democracy and be signing bonds, which did not have input of the Student Leadership in any way?" He, however, indicated that he was still considering the possibility of signing.

Mr William Wilson, an ACCA student, claimed that the chairman of the interim SRC, whom the School's Authorities were dealing with, was a lecturer pursuing a Diploma in Business Studies (DBS), therefore, was not qualified by any standard to be a student leader. "This is simple logic. We will not accept his leadership."

Mr Owusu Appiah, an ACCA level three student, stated:

"Well, the degree students can go ahead and sign but we

the professionals will not do so." Two students pursing a degree course, who spoke to the

had nothing to lose. They said they would be of good

behaviour to ensure that they did not become victims of the

bond. Mr Mawuli Feglo, Dean of Students Affairs, said

students, who were signing the bond were the only ones

showing interest to continue their studies in the Institute,

adding that those, who refused would forfeit their

studentship. He said the 2005/2006 Executive Council and the

General Assembly had not been dissolved as was being

rumoured. Rather they had only been set side for the

current impasse to be resolved. Mr Feglo noted that the suspension of the SRC

constitution was to ensure that certain aspects were

amended to satisfy all categories of student groups. He said now that there were degree and diploma in

business studies students, the constitution needed to be

amended to take into account all their various needs. The IPS Authorities on Monday said the School would

re-open on October 23 but gave the students conditions

under which they would be taken back. The students were asked to pick bond forms from

October 17 and submit them by October 23. The Authorities

said any student, who defaulted in signing the undertaking

by the said date would forfeit his or her studentship in the

Institute. It said the 2005/2006 Executive Council and General

Assembly remained set aside and the interim Student

Representative Committee shall continue to take charge of

students' affairs and their dealings with the Management

until further notice. The statement also said the current SRC constitution

remained suspended until further notice.