Students in Off-Campus Accommodation in the University of Education, Winneba and the Effect on Academic Activities, Ghana

Abstract

The provision of accessible, decent, safe and academically conducive accommodation for students in higher institutions is of great importance to enable the students perform academic activities excellently. In Ghana, regardless of Government's efforts to meet the accommodation needs of all tertiary students; there is still the issue of accommodation deficit among students in various campuses. This phenomenon has called for accommodation policies in various universities in Ghana, including University of Education, Winneba. This paper investigates students in off-campus accommodation in relations to factors influencing choice of accommodation and effect of off-campus accommodation on students' academic activities in University of Education, Winneba. Descriptive survey was employed for the study. Using multistage sampling (stratified, purposive, convenience and random sampling), 250 respondents were selected for the questionnaire survey. Frequencies, percentages and mean values organized in tables were statistical tools for analysis. The study revealed that majority of students on off-campus accommodation in UEW take into account factors such as security, utility, sanitation, condition of apartment and proximity, including number of occupants, neighbourhood and cost of the apartment when choosing accommodation. Subsequently, the study shows that off-campus accommodation has no adverse effect on academic activities on majority of students' in UEW regarding opportunity to do private studies; lateness to lecture; lateness in submission of assignment; poor performance in examination and quizzes. This notwithstanding, off –campus accommodation in UEW adversely affect students' group work; access to library and access to internet. The study recommends that providers of hotels, flats and compound homes that accommodate of-campus students should continue to ensure the provision of adequate security, toilets and other domestic facilities as well as keeping the sanitation clean to attract more students. However, the facility providers should provide internet at their premises to enable students in off-campus accommodation get access to internet, since internet use is inevitable in doing academic work in recent times. Further, students in off-campus accommodation are encouraged to form study groups particularly those offering the same programmes and courses.