University education no longer sole responsibility of gov't - Tettey-Enyo

Accra, Nov. 29, GNA - University education can no longer be the sole responsibility of Government in this challenging moments of the country, Mr Alex Narah Tettey-Enyo, Minister of Education, on Sunday reiterated. He said there was the need for the collaboration and support of all stakeholders including religious organisations, financial institutions, and other private corporate bodies to help in that regard. Mr Tettey-Enyo made the remarks at the sixteen congregation ceremony of the Valley View University (VVU) at Oyibi in the Greater Accra Region. The congregation saw the graduation of 615 students, 607 of whom received degrees in various Bachelor programmes and eight in certificate programmes.

He said the purpose of university education was to create a conductive atmosphere for harmonious development, adding that they should enhance their research capacities to make their role more relevant particularly in their areas of expertise.

"Your aim of being the centre of excellence in learning and teaching can and should be achieved. With this, you can leave a legacy of excellence and a future without limitation," the Minister said. Mr Tettey-Enyo implored the students to use their skills to promote peace and unity as well as help the country's economy to grow. "Remember life's tough situation can bring out the best in you," he said.

Professor Dr Daniel Buor, Vice Chancellor of VVU, said the University would introduce a programme in Mathematical Science, which would comprise mathematics, statistics and actuarial science, sociology and social work and economics.

He noted that an 'Endowment Fund' for the institute shall be launched to enable the University realized its vision and executes its mission. Prof Dr Buor expressed the hope that all stakeholders would get involved in supporting a noble cause.

He said the philosophy of the school was to develop all faculties of a person including the spiritual and moral aspects of man. He said a credit facility was being negotiated for the construction of a 1,000-seating capacity lecture hall theater with staff offices, a 450-bed hostel, a state of the art library, a two-block residential accommodation for staff and an information technology centre. "Ongoing infrastructure projects include the school of business lecture theater, Bediako Hall, a multipurpose gymnasium and a security post would be constructed," he added.

Prof Dr Buor announced to the gathering that the Institute's hospital had been granted a five-year accreditation by the National Health Insurance Authority to operate on the scheme.

On the category of service to the community, he said, the University hospital continued to render health care to both staff and the community in areas including daily Out-Patient Department, hepatitis B, immunization and free eye screening among others.

In the field of research, the Vice Chancellor also announced that the school's faculty had made strenuous efforts to research in areas of relevance to national development, explaining that the Department of Development Studies was undertaking research in the performance of the Ghanaian Parliament within the fourth republic.