A Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of parliament, Dr Clement Apaak, has bemoaned the worsening condition of public universities in the country.
This comes on the back of the ongoing strike by Lecturers of Public Universities.
Dr Apaak described the industrial action as unfortunate but maintained that government must be held accountable for failing to fulfill its obligations to the Lecturers.
Meanwhile, he has listed a number of issues affecting teaching and learning in Ghana’s public universities.
Among the issues he raised is the quality of students entering the universities, saying, this is “challenging as some have poor English and writing ability.”
Below is his full statement…
Education In Crisis – Public Universities
The ongoing strike by Lecturers of our Public Universities has generated a wider conversation regarding our Public Universities.
The stalled conditions of service negotiations between University Teachers’ Association (UTAG) and Government, and the withdrawal of teaching and related services by University Lecturers is unfortunate.
However the Lecturers cannot be blamed, Government must be held to account for failing to fulfil its obligations to the Lecturers.
Below are some of the issues affecting teaching and learning in our Public Universities.
- Overburdened Lecturers due to large student numbers;
- Poor condition of service of lecturers, leading to limited focus on the quality of teaching;
- Limited research support and funding, leading to limited research output;
- Lack of adequate infrastructure; lecture halls, residential facilities, office space etc;
- Non provision of teaching aids such as laptops and horrible Internet and IT infrastructure and costs, in face of Covid;
- Quality of students entering the universities challenging as some have poor English and writing ability.
Dr. Clement Apaak
M.P, Builsa South and Deputy Ranking Member On Education
