Université Gaston Berger : Des étudiants dénoncent la situation d’hébergement et menacent de descendre dans la rue
Faced with an unsustainable housing crisis, students at Gaston Berger University (UGB) in Saint-Louis are sounding the alarm. Gathered around their coordination, they denounce the overcrowding of rooms, the deterioration of social infrastructure, and the authorities' lack of response. They demand urgent measures to improve their living and study conditions, failing which they threaten to resume the struggle.
At a press briefing held this weekend in Saint-Louis, Modou Ba, spokesperson for the Saint-Louis Student Coordination (CESL), described the situation as "calamitous, chaotic, and deadly." According to him, the social campus's capacity, estimated at 6,365 beds, is largely insufficient for a student population of more than 24,000.
"Rooms intended for six students now accommodate ten, and those intended for four people are occupied by eight. Even study rooms, TV rooms, and some mosques have been converted into dormitories," Modou Ba lamented.
Broken promises
The students claim to have repeatedly alerted university and government authorities to this situation. A meeting held on May 27 at the Prime Minister's Office even resulted in concrete promises regarding the delivery of new projects, including the Village O platform and the marquee for Restaurant No. 2. However, according to the CESL, none of these commitments have yet been fulfilled.
"For years, we've been given empty promises. Today, the situation has reached its peak," laments the coordination, which also mentions the difficulties of accessing connectivity and security problems on campus.
A call to action from the government
The coordination is calling on the new Minister of Higher Education to break his "silence" and take urgent measures. In particular, it is calling for the construction of a new 800-bed village and the acceleration of ongoing construction.
"We are appealing to the Prime Minister, the parents of students, and all those who value human dignity. The UGB can no longer decently accommodate new students. We must act now," the spokesperson insisted.
The threat of a return to protest
While recalling that they had suspended their strike action to preserve the stability of the academic calendar, the students warned that they could resume the mobilization if nothing is done.
"We have shown patience and responsibility. But if the authorities continue to remain silent, we will not hesitate to resort to all means of union struggle," they threatened.
Commentaires (4)
Boy, les résidences universitaires ont toujours été surchargées et surpeuplées. Il y’a toujours eu des “calandos” dans les cités U, il faut vous arranger entre vous et surtout tout faire pour quitter rapidement l’université.
T'avais surement pas le même discours quand c'était l'ancien qui était là. Nafékh binguén néké
c est des bandit avec noir fumé ou des étudiants?
On est arrivé au summum de la patience, nous les étudiants de l’UGB. Le nouveau régime n’est t’il pas le fruit de l’ancien régime ? Est-ce vrai que nos mains qui ont hier sont celles qui nous giflent aujourd’hui?
So Alla étudianji UGB no tampi, yo Alla faabo min.
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