Tarkwa School of Mines to attain university status

The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology School of Mines (KNUSTSM) Tarkwa at the weekend held its 17th matriculation ceremony at Tarkwa at which 200 students out of 480 candidates that qualified for admission were officially admitted to the school.

Out of the 200 admitted, 18 were female students. Thus bringing the total number of female students to 34. This year, the school admitted 15 postgraduate students.

Professor John Sefa Kojo Ayim, Vice Chancellor of KNUST, who administered the matriculation oath, advised the students to remain focused and avoid hooliganism and acts of indiscipline that often detracted them from the purpose for which they were admitted.

Prof Ayim asked them to obey the university authorities that have been placed in responsible positions to serve them in accordance with the university's regulations. He announced that the University Council would meet this month to give approval to grant the school University College status.

Professor Daniel Mireku-Gyimah, Principal of the School, explained that the Academic Board had given its approval to the conversion of the school into Western University College (WUC) in line with government's white paper on the educational reforms.

He said the process included the transfer of the Geological Engineering and Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy programmes at the Kumasi Campus to Tarkwa.

Prof Mireku-Gyimah said the management structure of the school had been re-organised to reflect those of a university college.

He said the school now has the Faculty of Mineral Resources Technology and Faculty of Engineering. A third Faculty to be known as Faculty of Integrated Management Sciences would be established after two years.

Prof Mireku-Gyimah said the rationale for converting the school into a university college was to facilitate the effective development of its academic programmes to enhance the promotion of active research and to improve efficient management of the finances.