Government Directs Public Universities To Reverse Fees

The Ministry of Education has directed all public universities to reverse their fees to that of the 2016/2017 academic year, until Parliament determines the new one 2017/2018 academic year in line with the Fees Act. 

The Minister of Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, said, the new directive is to enable the public universities reopen on time for the 2017/2018 academic year.
 
Dr. Opoku Prempeh gave the directive in a speech read for him at the Ninth Congregation of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).

Dr. Opoku said the concerns expressed by the public universities on the Finance Ministry's directive that all public universities were required to cede 34 per cent of the internally generated funds to government was receiving due attention. 

He said government is in the process of establishing the National Research Fund to promote and support research for the nation's socio-economic development.

He explained that the National Research Fund, will not replace the Book and Research Allowance of public university lecturers; but rather complement it. 

At the congregation, which was on the theme: "Celebrating Professional and Scholarly Excellence for Accelerated Nation Building," a total of 4,007 students graduated, which is the highest in the history of the University.

Out of the number, there were 280 diplomats, 3,255 undergraduate and 472 postgraduate students.

The Congregation was under the sponsorship of the UMB, Access Bank, United Pension Trustees Limited, Excellence Business College, Ideal Financial Services and SIC Life as its sponsors.
 
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey, in his maiden report to the Congregation, said the four strategic goals that the University was anchored under his leadership were: Enhancing institutional image and development, improving institutional effectiveness, promoting research and enterprise and effectively competing in the global higher education environment.

He said the University will be setting up a the Vice Chancellor's Endowment Fund, to enable bright, but needy students to receive undergraduate and postgraduate education at the UPSA, against their personal pledge to work for Ghana upon graduation.

He announced that Barclays Bank Limited had selected the UPSA as one of its beneficiary of the Barclays Tertiary Scholarship. 

He said the scholarship will be disbursed to 15 students each academic year. 

The Vice Chancellor appealed to the government to take a second at the directives by the Finance Ministry, that public universities should cede 34 per cent of their internally generated funds to government; and allow them to retain 100 per cent of the funds.


Drolor Bosso Adamtey I, UPSA Chancellor, who presided over the Congregation, advised the graduating students to be innovative to create opportunities for themselves and others.

SOURCE: GNA