The Ghana Tertiary Education Council (GTEC) has set a daunting target to increase Ghana’s gross enrollment ratios for tertiary education from 20% to 40% by 2030 through the establishment of a Ghana Open University.
When fully institutionalized, the Ghana Open University should afford every Ghanaian the opportunity to sign up for university education from any location via their digital devices, within the right regulatory environment.
Director of Accreditation and Quality Assurance at the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission John Dadzie Mensah shared details of the Tertiary Education Policy Document, at the 14th Graduation of the Garden City University College at Kenyase in the Ashanti Region.
“The policy among others directs the establishment of a Ghana Open University as a special purpose vehicle for improving the nation’s gross enrolment ratio which now stands at 20%. The nation targets to move this up to 40% by 2030 as it makes it possible for every Ghanaian to sign up to university education,” he noted.
Mr. Dadzie Mensah stated that among other things, the Tertiary Education Policy Document should also ensure greater monitoring and quality assurance of institution-led online studies that have been adopted by several tertiary institutions in the wake of the COVID 19 pandemic.
Listing a number of challenges including poor access to internet and the financial barriers of affording electronic gadgets; Mr. Dadzie Mensah divulged the government’s commitment to providing the appropriate telecommunication infrastructure to make investments in ICT at the tertiary education institutional level meaningful.
These interventions include mandatory technical interventions to smoothen access to digital technologies as well as proper codification and access to education resources.
“There shall be broadband internet access on campus which is accessible to both students and staff. Where there are multiple campuses of an institution, the facility shall be made available on each of the campuses” he indicated.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Director General, Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, Prof. Mohammed Salifu, commended the Garden City University College for institutionalizing its Center for Open Distance and E-Learning (CODEL) which has exponentially increased the school’s population.
The centre established by the University’s outgoing President Prof. Emmanuel Kwame Asante now has Virtual Learning Centers in the Ashanti Regional Capital, Kumasi; the Upper West Regional capital Wa; Tamale in the Northern Region, Takoradi in the Western Region, Oda and Koforidua in the Eastern Region, and Keta in the Volta Region.
These two technology-driven programmes churned out its first batch of graduates who formed part of the 14th Congregation where 1626 students graduated with diploma and degree certificates in the faculties of Business, medical, and applied sciences.
Speaking to Ultimate News’ Ivan Heathcote – Fumador, the founder of the University Albert Acquah noted that the school was progressing cautiously with the online studying platforms as some courses could not be offered solely through the virtual platforms.
“There are certain disciplines like Engineering and nursing you cannot do online but certain courses that are amenable to distance learning we will do it.”
Ours is more of blended studies where we have professors who travel once a month to the various centers to explain things that the students haven’t understood. We have hired people there to go through the practice with them,” he explained.
The theme for the 14th Congregation of the Garden City University College was, “transforming higher education through digitalization: prospects and challenges.”
Source: Ivan Heathcote – Fumador