The management of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) students who were earlier asked to defer the ongoing academic year for failure to pay their fees on time another opportunity to do so.

A statement issued by the University on Thursday, 25 March 2021 said “Management of the Ghana Institute of Journalism has magnanimously granted all students who failed to register for the first semester of the 2020/2021 academic year an opportunity to register and write their end-of-semester exams instead of deferring their programmes”.

According to the statement, management took the decision on Thursday, 25 March 2021, after it received a petition from student leaders who also rendered an unqualified apology on behalf of the student body.

“We wish to place on record that management had consistently engaged with students about payment of fees and registration since 2018 when students embarked on a demonstration on a similar issue,” the statement further noted

It continued: “Since then, management has continually served notices to students and extended registration deadlines with no penalty, and provided opportunities for students with difficulties to utilise the institution’s processes in resolving their issues to enable them to register”.

Management also directed all affected students “to immediately produce their receipts at the Academic Affairs registry to complete registration processes”.

“This opportunity to register shall expire in five (5) working days from today, on Thursday, 1 April 2021. Any other student who has a special case should contact the Registrar's office to avail themselves of any opportunities available for students with exceptional circumstances or difficulties.

“Accordingly, examinations scheduled to start on Monday, 29 March 2021, are rescheduled to Tuesday, 6 April 2021. The Academic Affairs registry shall release a new examination timetable in due course,” the statement further noted.

The “management of the Ghana Institute of Journalism, at its meeting held on Monday, March 22, 2021, decided that students who paid their fees after the registration deadline should defer their programme,” a notice issued by the school on Tuesday, 23 March 2021 said.

The directive angered the affected students, who, together with their colleagues, decided, in solidarity, to march to the school’s premises to picket on Wednesday, 24 March 2021.

The #OccupyGIJ protests drew massive attention of student groups, the traditional media and social media and the general public.

Read full statement below:

GHANA INSTITUTE OF JOURNALISM

 MEDIA RELEASE

GENERAL AMNESTY TO NON-REGISTERED STUDENTS

 1. Management of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) has magnanimously granted all students who failed to register for the first semester of the 2020/2021 Academic Year an opportunity to register and write their end of semester exams instead of deferring their programmes. Management took this decision today, Wednesday 25 March 2021, based on a petition received from student leaders yesterday and the engagement with the said students who rendered an unqualified apology on behalf of demonstrating students who had issued threats, untruths and insults against Management.

2. We wish to place on record that Management had consistently engaged with students about payment of fees and registration since 2018, when students embarked on a demonstration on a similar issue. Since then, Management has continually served notices to students and extended registration deadlines with no penalty and provided opportunities for students with difficulties to utilise the institution’s processes in resolving their issues to enable them register.

3. Students embarked on a demonstration on Tuesday, 23 March 2021, without first notifying Management and discussing their difficulties and this was rather unfortunate.

 4. Management has listened to students' plea and accepted the apology rendered by students in good faith. Leadership, therefore, grants a general amnesty to all students to complete their registration. Affected students should immediately produce their receipts at the Academic Affairs registry to complete registration processes. This opportunity to register shall expire in five (5) working days from today, on Thursday, 1 April 2021. Any other student who has a special case should contact the Registrar's office to avail themselves of any opportunities available for students with exceptional circumstances or difficulties. Accordingly, examinations scheduled to start on Monday, 29 March 2021, are rescheduled to Tuesday, 6 April 2021. The Academic Affairs registry shall release a new examination timetable in due course.

5. Management wishes to reiterate that it has at all times operated a humane and open-door policy by listening to students and granting many extensions. We are committed to working with students to achieve academic excellence in a spirit of cooperation, dialogue and mutual respect. Students should therefore not hesitate to approach Management with their issues and desist from resorting to demonstrations as a first resort without first engaging with leadership and without provocation.

6. As an institution with a vision and mission to achieve academic excellence comparable to any other global higher education institution, we shall continue to commit to international best practices in higher education administration. We, therefore, wish to remind students and all other stakeholders that GIJ is granting this amnesty to students for the last time. The Institute shall religiously enforce its registration policies at the beginning of the next academic year. Students who have difficulties in registering for financial or other reasons should approach the Institute and enter suitable arrangements in line with its policies to help build a culture of respect for academic integrity, policies and procedures and the overall sustainability of GIJ.

 7. We entreat all affected students to take advantage of this amnesty and register.

Management wishes all students good luck in their examinations.

Signed

 RECTOR

25th March, 2021.