Public universities ordered to reverse high tuition fees

The Minister of Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has ordered all public universities to reverse their fees until Parliament determines the new one 2017/2018 academic year in line with the Fees Act.

He said the directive is to enable the public universities reopen on time for the 2017/2018 academic year.

The minister gave the directive in a speech read on his behalf at the 9th Congregation of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).

Some aggrieved students of the Universities, have voiced out their displeasure about the exorbitant fees being charged by the school authorities.

They protested what they term as an insensitive increment in their tuition fees and accused the university authorities of arbitrarily increasing fees every new academic year.

They have called on Parliament to scrutinise the fees before the university is allowed to bill students.

Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga who doubles as the chairman of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee asked public universities to comply with the law by submitting their proposed fees to Parliament.

Mahama said the new charges are illegal since it has no legal basis.

Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh speaking at the congregation directed all public universities to reverse their fees.

At the congregation, which was on the theme: "Celebrating Professional and Scholarly Excellence for Accelerated Nation Building," a total of 4,007 students graduated, which is the highest in the history of the University.

Out of the number, there were 280 diplomats, 3,255 undergraduate and 472 postgraduate students.

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Abednego Feehi Okoe Amartey, in his speech said the four strategic goals that the University was anchored under his leadership were: Enhancing institutional image and development, improving institutional effectiveness, promoting research and enterprise and effectively competing in the global higher education environment.

He said the University will be setting up the Vice Chancellor's Endowment Fund, to enable bright, but needy students to receive undergraduate and postgraduate education at the UPSA, against their personal pledge to work for Ghana upon graduation.