GROWTH IN STUDENTS’ HALL OF RESIDENCE AND SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS: INSIGHTS FROM THE BAMBILI-BAMBUI UNIVERSITY CATCHMENT OF THE NORTH WEST REGION OF CAMEROON

Authors: Calista Tem & Lawrence F. Fombe

ABSTRACT

The growth in students’ hall of residence have become a global issue in University Cities today resulting to overcrowding, given the rapid influx of students into the university milieu to seek for accommodation. The situation is more glaring in third world cities as they lack the necessary resources to provide on-campus accommodation for students. The overwhelming student enrollment supplants the available students’ halls of residence, triggering increase housing demands in the private rented market with associated socio-environmental implications. Previous studies on student housing have focused mostly on their facilities neglecting its growth. The focus of this study is to examine the trends and socio-environmental implications in the growth of Student’ halls residence. The study made use of a descriptive research design. The purposive, cluster and snowball techniques were used to collect data from these halls of residence in the catchment area. Primary data was obtained with the use of Questionnaire, field observation, interviews, focused group discussions as well as the use of satellite images. The SPSS version 20 and Micro soft Excel 2016 were used to analyze the qualitative and quantitative data. Analysis of the trends in the halls of residence showed that there has been an increase in their construction from 2000-2024 at the detriment of family housing representing over 500% growth rate. Environmental decay, uncontrolled urban sprawl, cultural conflicts (local resident & students), high rental rates and social segregations were some of the problems expressed by students/families living in association within their neighborhoods. The study thus recommends that proper environmental management, security, and planning measures implemented to mitigate these problems.

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