Squeezed student accommodation, crowded classrooms, shabby buildings are common features of Ethiopian higher institutions. However, the messages and pictures Ethiopia Observer received from students of the main campus of Hawassa University, a public university established in 1999 and located in Hawassa, the capital of southern region are staggering. The pictures show dangerous buildings, old, lacking repair and maintenance with their condition eventually becoming dilapidated. The students talked about substantial problems in blocks 333, 334, 335, 336 and 337 of the third year dormitories. “The buildings have become very old and in need of much repair. Doors are broken, locks on the doors are broken, broken lockers, unclean toilets and the presence of bed bugs,” they wrote, telling us they would like to remain completely anonymous for fear of retribution. The difficult part of this desperate situation is the school will do nothing even as students beg for help and are told they are not allowed to fix problems or hire anyone to help them.

One student said he believes the students should be relocated until things are improved or the buildings are torn down and completely replaced. Another student he is currently trying to send evidence of bed bugs.  He said he is using pesticides but they still come out and bite in the night as students are trying to sleep denying them of much-needed rest.

The university writes on its website it “fosters the personal, emotional and academic well-being of students and helps them reach their full potential by providing comprehensive clinical/ developmental counselling, nationally recognized training, outreach and prevention services and consultative relationships across campus. Our entire staff is committed to providing a safe, welcoming and affirmation environment for all students.”

The students say the school is failing in this regard. The students insisted their goal isn’t to malign or destroy the University but to raise awareness so willing people are mobilized to act and help a desperate situation for hard working and well deserving students. Students are attempting to fix things themselves but have to resort to using rudimentary tools. Even bringing tools won’t work as the guards inspect the student’s belongings and do not allow them to bring tools onto campus, they said.

Ethiopia Observer’s several emails and social media requests seeking a reaction to the report from the University went unanswered.

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