Graduates should have the ability to think analytically - JAK

President John Agyekum Kufuor on Sunday said a major challenge facing the country's universities was to produce graduates with the ability to think analytically.

He said the universities should give the students the chance to discover what humanity had been up to in the past, open their minds to flexibility and equip them with the general knowledge to enable them to make sense of their lives in society at large.

"The current trend had been for the universities to produce specialists, but whatever specialisation a student acquired, must emerge from a sound and good quality general education," he added.

President Kufuor was speaking at the national launching of the Presbyterian University College (PUC) at the Kaneshie Presbyterian Church in Accra.

The PUC, which begins academic work in October this year, was established to realise the educational goals of the Church.

It is being envisaged as a multi-campus University College with campuses at the Ramseyer Training Centre at Abetifi-Kwahu, Presbyterian Teacher Training College at Akropong-Akwapim and the Presbyterian Hospital at Asante-Akyem Agogo.

The College would begin initially with two programmes- Management Studies and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at Abetifi-Kwahu.

Other programmes planned are, Science, Technology, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Art, Culture and Medical Sciences.

President Kufuor expressed the hope that the Church, well-known for thoroughness in its approach to issues, would not fall into the danger of ending up with an institution that was only able to provide a 'narrow' education.

He asked the Church to let the Presbyterian virtues that had served the country so well be an integral part of the University College.

President Kufuor commended the Church for citing the campuses in the rural areas to ease the pressure on the cities that had traditionally housed universities in the country.

He assured the Church that the Ministry of Communications had been directed to ensure the poor telephone system at Abetifi-Kwahu was upgraded to suit the needs of the University before it begins academic work this year.

The Right Reverend Dr. Sam Prempeh, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church said the University College was in response to the challenge for high student demand in tertiary education in the country, erosion of moral and ethical values and the low standard of education.

He said education and discipline were the tools for sustainable development, therefore, efforts were being made by the Church to come out with its own education policy in line with the government's policy.

Rt-Rev. Dr Prempeh later inaugurated and inducted into office seven out of the 16-member University College Governing Council.

They are Professor D. Adzei-Bekoe, Chairman, Professor Kofi Sraku-Lartey, the first Principal of the University College, Reverend C.B. Ahwireng, Akuapem Presbytery Chairman of the Church and Rev. Dr D.N.A. Kpobi, Ga Presbytery Chairman of the Church.

The others were, Very Reverend Anthony A. Beeko, immediate past Moderator of the Church, Mrs Rose Oduro-Koranteng, Principal of Aburi Women's Training College and Mrs Edith Francois a member of the University College Implementation Committee.

About 500 million cedis was realised during appeal for funds and about 350 million cedis in pledges.

President Kufuor donated 20 million cedis to the University College.