The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), led by Professor Ahmed Abdulai Jinapor, Director-General, has set a deadline of 31st August 2024 for all tertiary education institutions to meet the requirements for a Presidential Charter.
This decision comes following the enactment of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020(Act 1023), which mandates all tertiary institutions to obtain a Charter by the specified deadline.
While the aim of granting Chartered status to universities, colleges, and institutes is to provide autonomy and the ability to award undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, concerns have been raised about the strict enforcement of this requirement. The application fee for the Charter has also been increased from Sixty Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS60,000.00) to Seventy Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS 70,000.00), adding to the financial burden on institutions.
Critics argue that the mandatory nature of obtaining a Presidential Charter may lead to the closure of many private universities, colleges, and institutions by the deadline. They suggest that the process should be an optional pathway, as is the international best practice, to allow flexibility and affordability for institutions to develop at their own pace.
The current economic challenges facing the country, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, have put additional strain on private educational institutions. The list of requirements imposed by GTEC for obtaining a Presidential Charter is seen as unreasonable, considering the financial and infrastructure disparities among institutions.
Calls have been made for the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission to suspend the 31st August 2024 deadline and reevaluate the process. Critics argue that the rush to enforce the regulations could have a detrimental impact on students, parents, employment rates, and the overall economy. They suggest that nurturing and supporting private institutions to grow and compete in the educational sector would be a more productive approach.
In conclusion, critics urge the government to consider the implications of the current regulations on private higher education institutions and to work towards a more supportive and collaborative approach to ensure the continued growth and development of the sector.
