The University of Ghana has defended the upward
adjustments in the academic user fees for the academic year beginning January
2023.
This comes after
the Graduate Students' Association of Ghana (GRASAG) rejected the Ghana
Tertiary Education Commission's (GTEC) 15% increment in fees in all public
universities for the 2022/23 academic year.
GTEC had directed
tertiary institutions to review fees for the next academic year by a maximum 15
percent increment.
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According to a
statement issued by GRASAG, a rise in university fees will alleviate the
situation of economic hardship that hit the country.
GRASAG said some
tertiary institutions have released provisional fees above the approved 15%
increment, adding that some members of the Association are likely to drop out
of school over their inability to pay the fees.
But university
authorities in a statement said "the University of Ghana has adjusted fees
for the 2022/2023 academic year upwards by 15% based on the gazetted approved
fees for the 2019/2020 academic year."
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Below is
University of Ghana's justification:
ADJUSTMENTS IN
ACADEMIC FACILITY USER FEES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA
The University
of Ghana finds it necessary to set the records straight and to correct false
information being circulated about adjustments of Academic Facility User Fees
by the University for the 2022/2023 academic year. The adjustment of fees by
the University is based on rates approved by Parliament and communicated
through the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC). For the sake of clarity
and to ensure that our students and stakeholders are not misled, we wish to
explain that:
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1.
In the 2019/2020 academic year, public
universities, including the University of Ghana, were given approval by
Parliament to increase their fees by 5% cumulatively based on the 2016/2017
approved fees. On 27th January 2020, the University received the approved and
gazetted fees (Ref. RMERD/NTPU/12/19/MDAS/FEES/5) from the Ministry of Finance
through the then National Commission of Tertiary Education (NCTE). This was in
the second semester of the 2019/2020 academic year after the University had
already announced fees for that academic year. By this time, it was too late
for the University to implement the new fees.
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3. With the
outbreak of COVID-19 in March 2020, coupled with its associated challenges, Management
accepted a plea from the student leadership (SRC and GRASAG) to further suspend
the implementation of the parliamentary approved and gazetted fees until the
2021/2022 academic year.
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4. In effect,
therefore, the University of Ghana charged students subsidized fees for the
2019/2020, 2020/2021, and 2021/2022 academic years, rather than the approved
rates.
5. Following all
the necessary internal consultations and approval by the University Council, on
13th December 2022, the University announced that due to the increasing cost of
operations, it had become necessary for the University to implement 2019/2020
approved fees. The statement also noted that the fee schedules published at the
time were provisional, and that amounts to be paid would be updated once fees
for the 2022/2023 academic year were approved by Parliament.
6. On 21st
December 2022, the University received a letter from GTEC dated 16th December
2022, communicating that Parliament had approved an upward review of academic
fees by “…15% of the last approved rates”.
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7. It is
important to note that the only previously approved fees were those gazetted in
2019/2020 (Ref. RMERD/NTPU/12/19/MDAS/FEES/5) and not the subsidized rates the
University had to implement due, initially, to the late timing of the fee
announcement in January 2020, and later by concessions made due to COVID and
pleas from student leadership.
8. In line with
this, the University of Ghana has adjusted fees for the 2022/2023 academic year
upwards by 15% based on the gazetted approved fees for the 2019/2020 academic
year. Management, therefore, assures students, parents, and all stakeholders
that fees charged for the 2022/2023 academic year are legal and duly based on
approved fee levels as authorized by Parliament.
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The University
recognizes the current difficult economic situation in the country, and as such
has provided flexible fee payment terms for students. For example, students are
allowed to register for the first semester upon payment of 50% of their
academic facility user fees, with the remaining amount due in the second
semester. Additionally, students with genuine financial difficulties are
encouraged to apply to access support through the University’s Students
Financial Aid Office.
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Management
operates an open-door policy and has engaged student leadership on these
issues. We will continue to dialogue with student leaders, the general student
body, parents and guardians, and all stakeholders for a better understanding
and appreciation of all matters that concern the welfare of stakeholders of the
University.
Source:Pulse.com.gh
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