Students face accommodation crisis at Universities

Housing issue had reached boiling point to most of the public universities in the country. Universities are facing housing crisis to accommodate students. The essence of this crisis derived from the poor universities residence system. However, universities and colleges tend to over admit students of which the majority would not be residentially accommodated. The lack of housing by the universities had negatively impacted the students academically and physically. Most affected students are international students and those from far provinces across the country.

At first I thought perhaps students are not placed in universities residences simply because they don’t meet the main criterion for admission to residence. Until I discovered the reality of the matter that universities does not have enough housing to accommodate students. One could say universities can’t be able to accommodate students without considering finances, yes indeed finances it’s a priority in almost every institutions of higher learning. But this crisis cannot be justifiable by the universities simply because majority of the students are financially funded by the government. This gives the clear indication that it is no longer the issue of students having financial issues but the institutions themselves having lack of residences.

This crisis led to many students protesting severely, dropping out from universities, academically poor performance, raped, mugged and victimised. These happen mostly to students who are staying off campus. Recently Tshwane University of Technology student was reported raped in her private residence near the campus. In addition to this, three months ago, University of the Western Cape students were reported staying in shacks. Lastly, last year January, Vaal University of Technology student was reported murdered and raped on her way to private residence from the campus library in the evening. Just to mention the few typically examples that came out from this crisis caused by the universities at large.

I just believe that universities carried the responsibilities to ensure that students are safe and protected at all times. But this crisis shows the opposite of their responsibility to their students. This conduct might tarnish universities’ image. Most international students might stop considering to study in South Africa. If the universities remains unaccountable and ignorant to this ongoing challenge, South Africa will however experience crime escalation. Inasmuch as the universities sees their students becoming victims every now and then. I think its high time universities realises their mistakes in protecting their students in as far as building enough residences is concern.

Universities should consider these provisions to help prevent this crisis. They should admit a specific number of students that can systematically be accommodated in the universities residences. Universities should consider building enough housing. They should also improve residence system criteria which can enable students to be accommodated or registered before coming to school in order to avoid long queues which mostly results to students being stranded of the place to sleep. In conclusion, universities should be held accountable for their students in case if this crisis perpetuates itself.