Payment of Fees in Tertiary Institutions to Stop

The Minister of Education, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi on Friday met the executives of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) and assured them that payment of full fees by students in public tertiary institutions would not continue.

He said the government would not renege on its promise to ensure that no one is denied the right to education because of his or her financial and economic circumstances.

A statement signed by Mr Ahmed Ayuba, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Education, said the Minister convened the meeting to explain to NUGS measures taken so far by the Ministry to resolve the issue of payment of full fees by some students.

Prof. Ivan Addae-Mensah, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, in October triggered a debate when he announced that with effect from this year the university had decided to obtain the full cost of training each student.

The Vice-Chancellor said although the university had increased the academic user facility fees, ranging from 368,000 cedis for the Humanities, 529,000 cedis for Science and 747,500 cedis for Medicine, and a flat 200,000 cedis per student for the old halls of residence, the levels were "totally inadequate."

Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi said he had received an interim report from the National Council for Tertiary Education on the payment of full fees by some students in two out of three universities alleged to be charging full fees. He said a fuller report on all aspects of the practice was being awaited.

The Minister said the Ministry would study the report and take appropriate measures in consultation with the councils of the universities to forestall future occurrences as well as deal with the problem of students who had been affected by the payments.

Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi said the government remains committed to a "very practical and pragmatic way" to ensure that tertiary educational institutions are given the necessary support through budgetary and extra-budgetary funding to provide quality and accessible education.

He said the government has undertaken the development, rehabilitation and maintenance of infrastructure in public tertiary institutions at an estimated cost of 56 billion cedis.

Four billion cedis is being released for all public tertiary institutions in respect of government rebate on fees for this academic year, and the University of Ghana would be the first to receive its share.

Prof. Ameyaw-Akumfi said the ministry has also proposed an increase in the level of funds allocated to the tertiary education sub-sector under the budget of the education sector for next year.

He reminded the students that funding of education is an issue that must be tackled in a "dispassionate and realistic manner" and urged them to ensure that they participate actively in the education review exercise scheduled to start before the end of the year.

Mr Edward Bawa, President of NUGS, said they are prepared at all times to use dialogue in resolving problems affecting them.

He thanked the minister for involving students in matters relating to education and tertiary education in particular.