President directs review of new university fees

President Jerry John Rawlings has directed the Ministry of Education to review the academic user fees recently introduced in the country's universities.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Communications on said, "following consultations with the Council of State the President has directed the Ministry of Education to carry out a review of the academic facility user fees recently introduced in the country's universities".

It said, " during the consultations, it was noted that the principle of cost sharing is generally accepted by all parties. There, however, appears to be a difficulty created by lack of adequate notice of the current increases, which may have caused a genuine problem in respect of payment of the fees by some categories of parents and students".

The President has also directed the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and other financial institutions to expedite their consultations on the provision of loans to students in tertiary institutions to complement the utilisation of the needy student's fund.

President Rawlings has also directed the Ministry of Education to reschedule the proposed National Education Forum slated for 28th - 30th September.

"The postponement is to allow the institutions concerned, ample time to concentrate on resolving the impasse created by the closure of the University of Ghana as well as ensure smooth arrangements towards the re-opening of the other universities."

The statement said it "hoped that the education forum, when it takes place, will assist government to formulate a permanent and workable system of funding tertiary education".