Jealously guard the presidential charter – Akufo-Addo advises private universities
Private universities have been advised by President Akufo-Addo to jealousy guard the Presidential Charters given to them by making sure they maintain the high academic standards that come with it in their various institutions.
President Akufo-Addo cautioned that the charter could be revoked if they fail to meet the requirements that come with it as the government through the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) will check on the activities of the Private Universities in the Country.
Mr Akufo-Addo was speaking at an event to present presidential Charters to the Catholic University, Presbyterian University and Methodist University at the jubilee house.
“The president may on recommendations of the Commission through the Minister revoke or amend the Charter if the President recognizes that the revocation or amendment is in the best interest of tertiary education in the country. The universities should therefore bear in mind that they will be closely monitored, especially in areas of concern as outlined by GTEC”.
To maintain high academic standards in tertiary institutions, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission backed by the cabinet is tasked to carry out such a mandate.
Among other things, the commission makes sure that the stipulated time associated with getting a Presidential Charter for private universities to award their degrees is no longer hustle.
This situation has led to many private universities associating themselves with the public ones for a certificate to be issued on their behalf because it takes years for the private institution to get the presidential charters to operate on their own.
For a new private university in Ghana, you must have affiliated yourself to be mentored by an older tertiary institution for them to award certificates on your behalf for at least ten years.
Then it will be assessed on academic standards, facilities, and programmes being offered. A thorough assessment of the institution will be presented to the Education Minister who then recommends it to the President.
Upon approval, the Charter is then awarded to a tertiary institution to award its Degrees, Diploma and Certificates on its own.
