Govt to implement Teaching and Learning Innovation Fund

Akropong-Akuapem, Feb. 03, GNA-The government is to implement the Teaching and Learning Innovation Fund set up under the Education Sector Project to Support Innovation, Research and Learning in tertiary institutions.

This was announced by the Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Prof. Dominic Fobih at the official opening of the Presbyterian University College, Akuapem campus at Akropong- Akuapem in the Eastern Region on Saturday.

He said a stakeholders' forum to discuss the modalities for the application of the fund would be organised and called on private universities to take advantage of the forum to send proposals for consideration to enable them benefit from the fund. Prof Fobih said when the fund became operational, it would support, among other things, post graduate studies in HIV and AIDS education, leadership and management and long distance education. He commended the Presbyterian Church of Ghana on its contributions to the socio-economic development of the country over the past years.

Prof Fobih explained that the government, through the Ghana Education Trust Fund was supporting the development of tertiary education and gave the assurance that the private universities would not be left out.

He said the government, through the Ghana Education Trust Fund have provided support to private universities by supplying them with computers, library services and buses.

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt. Rev. Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso, in an address read for him by the Clerk of the General Assembly of the Church, Rev. Herbert Anim Oppong observed that the educational philosophy of PUC was to educate people in totality enable them to make a positive impact on society.

He said the task of the Presbyterian University College therefore, went beyond the traditional classroom education.

The Moderator said the PUC would produce men and women who would apply their advanced learning skills in the service of the Church, country and humanity and who would be fair, honest and self-motivated in the realization of their responsibilities to God, their fellow citizens and the state. Rt. Rev. Dr. Frimpong-Manso challenged the pioneering staff and students of PUC to go out with the distinction hallmark of the Presbyterianism to serve the government and the people of Ghana.

The Chairman of the Council of PUC, Mr. Sam Okudzeto said, the PUC was established in November 2003 at Abetifi in the Kwahu South District of Eastern Region and the Akuapem campus was opened in January 2007.

He said the private universities were playing positive role in national education delivery and therefore called on the government to support them to deliver quality and affordable education to greater majority of the population.

The Principal of the College, Prof. Sraku Lartey said the College currently runs courses in Data Communications and Networking, Software, Engineering Data and Information Management, Accounting, Finance and Banking, Marketing, Management, Human Resources Management and other courses. He said the College had opened another campus at Agogo in the Asante Akyem North District to offer courses in Nursing, Medical Sciences and Optometry.