Blame Government for Fall in Educational Standards - UTAG

By Isaiah Asante-Hayford, Kumasi

Accra - The Outgoing President of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), Dr. Benjamin A. Ntreh, has said that the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) should blame itself for falling standards in education and no-one else.

He said the Government failed to consider "all suggestions made in 1997 towards a smooth implementation of cost sharing in the education system".

According to Dr. Ntreh, all suggestions and communiques on the proposed changes in 1997 and 1998 were rather "kept on the table".

Dr. Ntreh was speaking at the National Congress of the Association held at Kumasi last week. He said a number of meetings were held to press for the establishment of bursary and scholarship schemes to assist needy students and also promising students in selected areas considered crucial to national development, but these recommendations, he added, were not taken up.

The outgoing President also said since the Government has embarked on the privatisation of national assets, it should consider privatising all universities and tertiary institutions for excellent service and proper remuneration.

That, the President said, would "encourage quality lectures".

Dr. Ntreh said the recommendations of Price Water House Associates on universal salary rationalism are inimical to university education. He said by implementing the recommendations, "it would be impossible to arrest the rapid deterioration in university education and the drift of lecturers out of the profession".

He added: "We need to sound a warning note that the majority of lecturers would retire in about five years there is the need to put in place something encouraging to attract youthful lecturers."

Dr. Ntreh said, "we are all aware that those who clamoured for Price Water House want to get out of the system soon" and that would leave the incoming lecturers in an unenviable situation.

He said the Association is prepared to dialogue with any group interested in the improvement of tertiary education in Ghana.

The Congress with the theme "The Ghanaian University and Attainment of the Goals of Vision 2020", was attended by lecturers from all the country's universities.

It discussed topics such as funding tertiary education in Ghana and strategies for attracting and retaining high calibre staff in the universities.