Member of Parliament for Builsa South and a ranking member of the Education Committee of Parliament, Dr. Clement Apaak, has intimated that the Education Committee in Parliament is not aware of Ghanaian students abroad being stranded.
Speaking about the students complain that government hasn’t released their fees which is hindering their academic progress abroad, Dr. Apaak, stated that it is the first time he is hearing about this matter and the Education Committee of Parliament officially is yet to be informed about this development.
“As a matter of fact, we were in Koforidua over the weekend to look at the Ghana UNESCO commission Bill and in that period that we were there, there was no inclination that our students who are on government’s scholarships abroad, were going through this trauma, hardship and indeed the state of confusion that they have to endure.”
Dr. Clement Apaak
Dr. Apaak averred that he has had the opportunity to study abroad and though he wasn’t studying on government scholarship, the conditions makes him understand the plight of the students in question.
“It’s a very worrying story and I have no reason to doubt it. I think the blame ought to be given squarely on the managers who are in charge of the affairs in the country.”
Dr. Clement Apaak
The Builsa South MP stated that yearly, budgets are presented, debated upon and passed so that government can expend its obligations to the citizens. He averred that as these students have been sent abroad by government to go and study, it is the nation’s responsibility to make sure that whatever is due them is released timeously.
“So that the challenges they are facing with regards to being blocked from writing exams, IA and so forth and even for some of them to be able to renew their permit.”
Dr. Clement Apaak
Situation not acceptable
According to Dr. Apaak, the situation clearly cannot be acceptable. He questioned what could possibly be the reason why the issue at hand is happening.
“It is either the scholarship secretariat is not up and doing or as has now become cliched in Ghana, the Minister for Finance, the Minister who believes that he has the capricious capacity to dip his hands into the consolidated funds and disburse monies not approved by Parliament, to support a cathedral that is being built on lies, perhaps has chosen not to disburse the monies approved and authorized through the national scholarship secretariat for disbursement for these students.”
Dr. Clement Apaak
Dr. Apaak stated that fingers must be pointed at government, the President and the one in charge of disbursing money. He assured that he will make enquires as to what is going on at the Scholarship Secretariat.
His comments came after reports that more than 1,000 students in over 20 countries have been blocked from accessing their school portals due to government’s failure to pay their fees as they are on the government scholarship scheme.
According to reports, some of the students won’t be able to to write examinations with others facing deportation especially those that live in Germany as they haven’t been able to renew their permit. The students are also reported to be suffering as they haven’t received their allowances from government.
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