The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has warned public tetiary institutions not to increase their fees beyond 15%.
GTEC and Parliament had indicated that there has been a 15% maximum increment across the board, as approved by Parliament for university fees from the previous academic year.
Some of the institutions announced in excess of 50 percent of fees to be charged for the 2022/2023 academic year without recourse to the approved rate by Parliament, hence the caution by GTEC.
“This is to kindly remind all public tertiary institutions to abide strictly by the approval given. Any increases above the approved rate shall be in direct contravention of the fees and charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2022 (Act 1080) and likely to attract sanctions from the Parliament of Ghana”
GTEC
It could be recalled that the University Students’ Association of Ghana (USAG) described as ‘insensitive’, the rate of increment in public university fees.
According to USAG, some public universities have gone ahead to release provisional school fees for the 2022/23 academic year with fees increased beyond the limit.
USAG noted that due to the current economic conditions the increment could result in students dropping out of school.
The Association revealed that any attempt by universities to increase fees above the approved percentage will be strongly resisted by students across the country.
GTEC noted that “At the request of the students, we further, kindly advise the Management of the institutions to consider accepting a 50% part-payment of fees to enable the student to register at the beginning of the year, with a specific payment plan agreed upon for the balance to be paid, based on individual circumstances. This is to provide flexible terms of payment and reduce fee-default rate amongst students with genuine financial challenges.”
Students Can’t Afford 15% Fee Increment Under A Shambolic Economy
Meanwhile, the deputy ranking member on the Select Committee on Education, Dr. Clement Apaak has noted that students in tertiary education cannot afford the 15 percent increment in fees in the public Universities.
Dr Apaak’s comments come on the back of Parliament approving a 15% maximum increment in university fees for the new academic year.
The National Union of Ghana Student (NUGS) also bemoaned reports of some institutions charging 30 percent. NUGS indicated that the move is unacceptable considering the prevailing economic hardship in the country.
Throwing his support for the students, the lawmaker stated the challenges has to do with the GETFUND capping.
“Students cannot afford a 15% fee increase in this shambolic economy. Universities are struggling to function due to inadequate funding so want to charge students more than 15%. The de-capping of GETFUND is the solution; universities will get support. The government must do the needful.”
Dr Apaak
The KNUST branch of TEIN also petitioned the Parliamentary Committee on Education and the Ministry of Education to call on public universities to reconsider their decision to increase fees.
The President of TEIN KNUST, Selma Yoda, in a press release, revealed that the 15% increment will impose risks to the basic right to education considering the difficulty parents are going through.
“In this case, students of various public universities risk a denial of their basic right to education as a result of the 15% approved increase by parliament,” the statement said.
TEIN stated that the increase in fees coupled with the inability of public universities to provide adequate accommodation for students result in worsening woes of parents as education becomes more of a privilege than a right.
The petition called on opinion leaders to help voice out this most urgent plea.
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