The Chairman of the Council of Dominion University College (DUC), Professor Felix N. Hammond, has called on government to extend the non-fee paying scheme being enjoyed by public universities to cover private tertiary institutions.
He said this would help in the fair distribution of resources to cover all Ghanaian students as prescribed by the Constitution.
Prof. Hammond made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the challenges confronting private universities in their efforts at complementing government’s bid to produce well-rounded graduates to support the nation-building agenda.
He said in view of limited financial resources, a criterium should be established so that students who could secure a minimum of five or six passes, could be entitled to government support to attend any of the universities of their choice rather than the public universities alone.
“Those who would fail to make the mark should be made to find their own means of funding whilst those who succeed would be provided the supplement to further their education. These would strengthen educational institutions through performance improvement and fulfil the constitutional obligation,” Prof. Hammond said.
“Once we are all Ghanaians, whatever benefits or entitlements are being enjoyed by the public universities should be extended to the private sector and this would foster a healthy competition between the universities in the country.”
Prof. Hammond said in spite of the numerous challenges faced by the private tertiary institutions, they played vital roles towards nation-building and, therefore, should be given the necessary support to function effectively.
He said the private tertiary institutions had helped to absorb many students who, otherwise, would not have been able to complete their education.
The President of DUC, Professor N.N.N. Nsowah-Nuamah said the major challenge of private universities was the affiliation system as practiced in Ghana, which did not promote innovation.
He urged private universities to endeavour to advance in their activities by meeting very important quality assurance standards such as qualified staff and infrastructural development.
Prof. Nsowah-Nuamah said the DUC was working hard to meet those standards in the shortest possible time.
He urged government to formulate policies that would ensure the provision of constant support to private tertiary institutions.
