A student of the Techiman-Krobo Nursing and Midwifery Training College in the Bono East Region has accused the school’s principal, Ellen Dwamena, of worsening students’ welfare conditions and introducing changes that have affected their academic progress.
Speaking under anonymity on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show, the student said several concerns compelled students to stage a protest, including changes to feeding arrangements, hostel conditions and the handling of students’ academic issues.
She said under the former principal, students who paid a feeding fee of GH¢1,800 received three meals daily, including during weekends and holidays.
“When our former principal was around, our feeding fee was GH¢1,800, and he made sure we were fed three times daily in school,” she claimed.
The student claimed that the situation changed after the former principal left, with food supplies to students staying in external hostels allegedly stopped during weekends and holidays.
“When our previous principal was around, even on weekends and holidays, he made sure a motor king brought us food three times daily. But when the new woman came, she stopped giving food to those in outside hostels during weekends and holidays,” she said.
She also alleged that breakfast had been removed from the feeding arrangement without proper communication to students, while lunch was sometimes served as late as 2:00 pm or 3:00 pm.
“Sometimes lunch comes around 2pm or 3pm before the food arrives. She has also reduced the quantity of food we receive. After paying GH¢1,800, we now get one ladle of food, unlike before when we received three ladles,” she added.
The student further raised concerns about hostel accommodation, saying the number of school hostels had reduced from five to four after one was closed, while eight hostels outside the school remained available.
She also accused the school management of unfairly handling the academic situation of some students with outstanding resit papers.
According to her, some final-year students who had already completed registration for practical examinations were prevented from writing because they had resit papers, despite previous arrangements that allowed students in similar situations to complete their programmes.
“Our seniors had registered and completed everything for their practicals. But when it was time to write, they were told they could not take the exams because they had resits. They were not even informed earlier to prepare and write the resit,” she alleged.
She added that the affected students were asked to return to school, pay fees again and join the next batch before they could complete their programmes.
“They wanted to sit at home and prepare to write the resit when we were ready, but they were refused and told to come back, pay school fees again and continue with us. We don’t think that is fair,” she said.
The comments follow a protest by students of the Krobo Nursing and Midwifery Training College, who are demanding the removal of Mrs Ellen Dwamena over what they describe as poor leadership and deteriorating conditions on campus.
The students, who carried placards and chanted slogans during the demonstration, accused the principal of being autocratic and insensitive to their welfare.
They have appealed to the Ministry of Health and other relevant authorities to intervene and reinstate the former principal, whom they credit with better management of the institution.
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