UCC encourages more female enrolment

Cape Coast (C/R), Nov. 1, GNA - The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Reverend Professor Emmanuel Adow Obeng, on Saturday, noted that as a result of the university's interest in gender equity, admission of female students, have gone up by four per cent this year, as against the last academic year.

He attributed the increase in enrolment to "a deliberate decision" taken by the Joint Admissions Board, to lower the cut-off points of some programmes in favour of female applicants.

Rev. Prof. Obeng stated this at a matriculation ceremony to formally admit 4,218 fresh men and women, including 426 privately sponsored, into the university to read various courses.

He explained that, in this regard, whereas the cut-off point for B.A. Social Science programme for males was 16, that of females was 17, Bachelor of Commerce, 7 for males and 8 for females and for Bachelor of Management studies, females with aggregate 11 were considered, while males had to have aggregate 9 to qualify.

He observed that the current student population of 12,212, excluding the 7,000 distance learners, was putting severe pressure on the academic staff, and that the university, has had to use all means possible to attract and retain high calibre staff.

The Vice-Chancellor was also concerned that out of 17,000 applications the university received for this academic year, only 4,218 students were admitted due to the lack of adequate infrastructure. He expressed gratitude to the government and the Trustees of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) for the support it has so far given to the university in the areas of infrastructure development.

He said the GETFUND, is providing funds for the construction of a library, a lecture theatre complex, and an examination hall, and that this year, Parliament had given approvals for amounts totalling 22.5 billion cedis to be released from the fund, for more development, procurement of equipment and vehicles and for research work.

Rev. Prof Obeng, repeated warnings that the UCC authorities would not compromise on discipline, and condemned a recent attack on a teaching assistant by two students of the university, resulting in his admission at the hospital.

According to him, the students had been identified and investigations were going on and stressed that any student who flouts the university's rules and regulation would be dealt with accordingly. He pointed out that the staff of the UCC, were making sacrifices in the interest of students, and there was the need for students to reciprocate by according them the necessary respect.