UHAS running unaccredited courses - Students

The University of Health and Allied Sciences based in the Volta Regional capital, Ho, is running unaccredited courses, a situation that makes it impossible for students, who pursued the affected courses to graduate, a statement jointly signed by eight students on behalf of all their affected colleagues who are due for graduation at the weekend, said.

The university was established to provide quality opportunities to students and healthcare professionals, advance knowledge through scholarship and research and provide patient care and services that improve health and quality of life, but the students claim some of the courses being offered are not accredited.

The statement, which was released on Tuesday July 19 said: “We have not even seen the results and grades we are graduating with. The previous results, which were made available, were full of mistakes. We petitioned the authorities but nothing has been done as we speak”.

It added: “A graduating list was released, which did not capture the names of some of our colleagues, though they had sat for and passed all their papers. Further probe revealed that some courses have not been accredited, hence such students cannot graduate. Similarly, the negligence and failure on the part of management to incorporate hard-earned results of some students has resulted to disqualifying such students from making the graduating list”.

“The licence to practice as health professionals vary, but one common thing is that your institution must be recognised so that the regulating bodies can allow such students to sit for the licensing exams [but] as we speak now, some programmes do not have accreditation and/or recognition from such regulatory bodies, hence the fate of the students have been left hanging. Management has turned a deaf ear to our many petitions to know the steps being taken to get these issues resolved,” the students said.

Read full statement below

Graduating Students (Regular) of University of Health and Allied Sciences

Agenda: Graduation anomalies

We, the graduands of the University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho wish to make the public aware about the unfortunate happenings in our noble institution.

In October 2012, the university admitted its first batch of students to pursue various programs leading to the award of degrees in various health and allied science fields.

We were made to believe that, since our institution is new, we shouldn't expect so much but compromise when we can as we support in developing the University into a prestigious one which will be recognised world-wide.

We therefore compromised to results anomalies, unavailability of accreditation though such courses were being run and many more.

On several occasions we petitioned management but we were told things were in the pipeline and will be resolved soon. We took these words as gospel truths hoping that these challenges will be tackled with all the urgency THEY deserved but unfortunately it IT WASN'T SO.

We are set to graduate in 4 days yet;

1. We have not even seen the results and grades we are graduating with.

The previous results which were made available were full of mistakes. We petitioned the authorities but nothing has been done as we speak.

2. A graduating list was released which did not capture the names of some of our colleagues though they had sat for and passed all their papers. Further probe revealed that some courses have not been accredited hence such students cannot graduate. Similarly, the negligence and failure on the part of management to incorporate hard-earned results of some students has resulted to disqualifying such students from making the graduating list.

Why should a university of such high standard do such to students who have put so much trust in her only to compel us to take blame for the negligence of management?

3. The license to practice as health professionals vary but one common thing is that, your institution must be recognised so that the regulating bodies can allow such students to sit for the licensing exams. As we speak now, some programmes do not have accreditation and/or recognition from such REGULATORY bodies hence the fate of the students have been left hanging. Management has turned a deaf ear to our many petitions to know the steps being taken to get these issues resolved.

We are by this press release, sending a strong warning to the management of the university that, they CANNOT go ahead with any graduation when the students they intend to present as graduands have serious issues ranging from anomalies in results to accreditation.

We will be forced to take legal action against the university if our concerns and petitions are not addressed by close of work today.

The University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho is a state asset, set up by an act of parliament hence its students who are the major stakeholders must not be relegated to the background with such disregard to our ambitions of becoming EXCELLENT health professionals.

Signed

Abigail Yanda Yempew (School of Medicine Rep)

Theophilus Kusi Nuamah (School of Nursing and Midwifery Rep)

Paul Nyarko (Sch of Allied Health Sciences Rep)

Sophia Stevens (Sch of Public Health Rep)

Mark Hammond (Group Spokesperson)

Sabastian Sydney Asare (Group Convener)

Felix Dimado (Group Legal Rep)

Gabriel Agbanyo (Asst. Group Legal Rep)