In a few weeks time, freshers in all the public universities will be reporting for their first semester and about 85% of these will look to be accommodated in the ‘limited’ hostel space around these universities. Well, you’ll tell me there are a number of hostels around each of these universities, and an alternative of rentals also come in handy, but what makes a ‘hostel’ a ‘real’ hostel?
Not every place that offers accommodation to you or your child is really a hostel. A real hostel must be clean and have good security for its occupants and their belongings. Plus a receptionist/custodian who monitors the premises. The location and its proximity to the university must also be looked at, I don’t think you would like to walk a long distance or hire public means to get to the lecture room. If its far, ensure the hostel has a shuttle.
The hostel must also be in a good and conducive neighbourhood as this not only provides security to its occupants but also allows you to have uninterrupted reading as a student.
“Another reason why I think I always got good grades at the university is because I resided in a good hostel which offered me a quiet environment for my revision” – Isaac Baluku; a MUBS finalist tips Freshers.
I know this is Campus and you’ll tell me how you need to be ‘free’ but a hostel must have rules and regulations that guide its users, for instance, Olympia hostel at Makerere does not allow sleep overs, or non-residents to keep in after 11:00 pm. Others have more strict policies that limit usage of electricity appliances, sound levels, visitation hours et all and sadly, these are hostels that many tabloids and saddists brand as bad, but these measures are only meant to protect you.
Check if that hostel has a standard policy on hygiene and provision of running water, anything less than that is not a hostel. Competition for these ‘Hostels’ is always stiff at the start of a new academic year, and you’ll only have your self to blame if you get into a sub standard accommodation building, rather than a hostel.
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