Methodist University College Ghana - Programmes Available for 2015/16 Academic Year

Post-Graduate Degree Programmes

M.A. Guidance and Counseling
M.Phil Guidance and Counseling
M.Phil Statistics
M.B.A. with options in
- Accounting
- Finance
- Human Resource Management
- Marketing

The M.B.A. programme comes with a Thesis option and a Course Work Option

Duration for each postgraduate programme is Two Years


Bachelor Degree Programmes

Faculty of Business Administration
B.B.A. (Bachelor of Business Administration) in:
- Accounting
- Banking and Finance
- Human Resource Management
- Marketing
- Management Studies

Faculty of Social Studies
B.Sc Acturial Science
B.Sc Economics
B.Sc Information Technology
B.Sc Mathematics and Statistics
B.A. Psychology
B.A. Social Work
B.Sc Procurement and Supply Chain Management
B.Sc Economics and Statistics

Faculty of Arts and General Studies
B.A. English Studies
B.A. Religious Studies and Ethics
B.A. Religion , Ethics and Psychology
B.A. French
B.A. Music
BFA. Theatre Studies

Faculty of Applied Sciences
B.Sc General Agriculture

Diploma Programmes

Diploma in General Nursing (Wenchi Campus)
Diploma in General Agriculture (Wenchi Campus)
Diploma in Music ( Dansoman Campus )
Diploma in Information Technology ( Dansoman Campus )


Certificate Programmes - (Dansoman Day Session)

One (1) Semester Duration
Certificate in Business Administration
Certificate in Entrepreneurship

One (1) Year Duration
Certificate in General/Church Music
Certificate in Christian Ministry and Leadership
Certificate in Information Technology
Certificate in Statistics
Certificate in Events Management
Certificate in Fashion, Costume and Make-Up Design
Certificate in Theatre Practice
Certificate in Sound Engineering

One (1) Year Duration ( Wenchi Campus )
Certificate in Agri-Business
Certificate in Agro-Processing
Certificate in Horticulture

Methodist University Ghana College 2015 / 2016 Admissions - How to Apply

ONLINE APPLICATION - METHODIST UNIVERSITY COLLEGE GHANA

APPLICANTS IN GHANA

Methodist University College Ghana application e-vouchers can be obtained by Ghanaian applicants for GH¢120.00 at the following banks: First Capital Plus Bank, Ghana Commercial Bank, Universal Merchant Bank, Agricultural Development Bank, Zenith Bank, HFC Bank, Ecobank, Fidelity Bank, Unibank, Universal Merchant Bank, and also at MTN Offices (MTN Mobile Money)


Applicants with visa cards ( both Ghanaian and foreign) can buy eVouchers online (http://vouchers.transflowmerchant.com/merchants.php?op=1&id=013)


Applicants should follow carefully the instructions on the voucher when completing the online application form.


TO COMPLETE THE ONLINE APPLICATION FORM:

i. Enter the PIN and Serial Number from your application voucher
ii. Scan and upload your passport picture.
iii. Complete the form Online
iv. Applicants should ensure that they click on the 'SAVE' button at the end of the applications.
v. Submit the form.


PLEASE NOTE:

i. You do not need to complete the form at one sitting; you can return to your partially completed application by logging in to the system using the PIN and Serial Number from your application voucher.

ii. Postgraduate students should scan and upload results slip as well as any supporting documents. ( Your application will not be considered until we have received all the required documents)

iii. Applicants are advised to check thoroughly all details entered before finally submitting their online applications.

NB: A FORM ONCE SUBMITTED CAN ONLY BE VIEWED BUT CANNOT BE EDITED.

Ghanaian Applicants: Visit the links below to apply

1 . Undergraduate     http://admissions.mucg.edu.gh/bach

2. Postgraduate        http://admissions.mucg.edu.gh/grad

FOREIGN APPLICANTS Methodist University College Ghana application e-vouchers  can be obtained by foriegn applicants  for GH¢240.00 if  within Ghana and $120 if outside Ghana at the following  banks:  First Capital Plus Bank, Ghana Commercial Bank,  Universal Merchant Bank, Agricultural Development Bank, Zenith Bank,  HFC Bank, Ecobank, Fidelity Bank,  Unibank, Universal Merchant Bank, and also at   MTN Offices (MTN Mobile Money) Applicants with visa cards ( both Ghanaian and foreign)  can buy eVouchers online  (http://vouchers.transflowmerchant.com/merchants.php?op=1&id=013)  Applicants should follow carefully the instructions  on the voucher when completing the online application form. Foreign Applicants: Visit the link below to apply http://admissions.mucg.edu.gh/fs/

Methodist University Ghana College - Admission Requirements for Bachelors' Degree Programmes 2015/2016

BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAMMES 2015/2016

1. WASSCE/SSSCE Certificate Holders


a) Credit passes (A – D) in three (3) core subjects including English Language, Mathematics and Integrated Science or Social Studies, and credit passes (A-D) in any three (3) elective subjects for SSSCE candidates.

b) Credit passes (A1 – C6) in three (3) core subjects including English Language, Mathematics and
Integrated Science or Social Studies, and credit passes (AI – C6) in any three (3) elective subjects
for WASSCE candidates.

The Aggregate score for the core and elective subjects must not exceed 24 for SSSCE candidates, and 36 for WASSCE candidates.

A credit pass or better in Elective Mathematics is also required of all applicants s eeking admission to the B.Sc Mathematics and Statistics, B.Sc Economics and Statistics, and B.Sc Actuarial Science degree programmes.

Applicants to the English Studies programme are required to have a credit pass or better in Literature-in-English.


CANDIDATES WHO WILL BE WRITTING THE WASSCE EXAMINATIONS IN APRIL/MAY, 2015, AND WISH TO BE ADMITTED SHOULD APPLY NOW WITHOUT WAITING FOR THEIR RESULTS.



The WAEC equivalent of the WASSCE/SSSCE grading system has been adopted. This is shown in the table.

WASSCE	SSSCE	EQUIVALENT
A1	A	1
B2	B	2
B3	C	3
C4	D	4
C5		5
C6		6

ii. G.C.E. Ordinary and Advanced Level Certificate Holders


Credit passes in at least five (5) subjects (including English Language, Mathematics and a Science subject) in the WAEC GCE 'O' Level and School Certificate Examinations, and three (3) passes at the CGE 'A' Level, one of which should be a 'D' or better. Two (2) 'A' Level passes at grade 'C' or better will also be accepted. A pass in General Paper must also be obtained.



iii. Advanced Business Certificate Examination (ABCE) Holders
Passes in three (3) subjects, one of which should be at least grade 'D' or better in the Advanced Business Certificate Examination (ABCE). Also, credit passes in five (5) subjects including English Language, Mathematics, Integrated Science or Social Studies in the General Business Certificate Examination (GBCE).



4. Other Applicants


A) HND holders
HND holders with at least Second Class Lower Division and must have acquired a 2 – year post HND working experience.


B) DIPLOMAS FROM RECOGNIZED UNIVERSITIES

C) MATURE APPLICANTS (BACHELOR'S DEGREE PROGRAMMES)
Must be twenty-seven (27) years or more at the time of writing the Mature Candidates Entrance Examinations.
Must show proof of age with a legitimate document that is at least five years old.
Must pass the Entrance Examination in English and General Paper (Logic and Critical Thinking, Mathematics and Current Affairs) moderated by the University of Ghana.

Applicants for BFA in Theatre Studies, and B.Sc Procurement and Supply Chain Management must be twenty-five (25) years or above.


MATURE APPLICANTS (DIPLOMA IN MUSIC)

Must pass the Entrance Examination in English, Music and General Paper (Logic and Critical Thinking, Mathematics and Current Affairs) moderated by the University of Ghana.

Must have at least Grade three (3) in performance and Grade five (5) in theory of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM).

Must demonstrate appreciable level of musicianship and performance skills on their instrument at an interview.


ACCESS COURSE FOR MATURE CANDIDATES


Access Course for Mature Candidates An Access Course will be organized on the Dansoman, Tema, and Wenchi Campuses of the University College on Saturdays from February 28 to April 25, 2015 for interested mature applicants. An Entrance Examination will be conducted at the end of the Access Course on Saturday May 2, 2015 to select applicants for admission

Presbyterian University College, Ghana (PUCG) 2015 / 2016 Admissions - How to Apply

ONLINE APPLICATION

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Ghanaian and Non Ghanaian Applicants can apply by following the steps below:

Purchase an eVoucher from any branch of these banks (Agricultural Development Bank, Ecobank, HFC Bank, Universal Merchant Bank, Prudential Bank, UniBank and Fidelity Bank). The cost of an eVoucher is GHS 100.00 for Ghanaian applicants and $100.00 for Non-Ghanaian applicants.

Applicants can also purchase the eVoucher using VISA and MTN Mobile Money. To use the VISA or MTN Mobile Money platform,

1. Visit http://vouchers.transflowmerchant.com/proc/forms.php
2. Provide your Name, Email Address and a valid Telephone Number (include international prefix and number should be a registered MTN mobile money subscriber)
3. Click Submit
4. Wait for PIN and Serial Number to be sent to the Telephone Number as SMS or the Email Address you provided.

TO COMPLETE THE ONLINE APPLICATION FORM

1. Visit http://gha.tmpws01.net/gha/gh/auth/login.php
2. Enter the PIN and Serial Number on the eVoucher you purchased.
3. Complete the form
4. Add all supporting documents
5. Submit the form

PLEASE NOTE:

1. Applicants do not need to complete the form at one sitting; you can return to your partially completed application form by logging in to the system using the PIN and Serial Number on your eVoucher.
2. Applicants are advised to check thoroughly all details entered before finally submitting their online forms.
3. Applicants should scan and upload their passport size photographs and results slips. Matured applicants must include their birth or baptismal certificates. The certificate should not be less than 3 years old.
4. Application will not be considered until all required documents have been received.

 A FORM ONCE SUBMITTED CAN ONLY BE VIEWED BUT CANNOT BE EDITED.

5. Applicants are required to print the summary and attach an endorsed corroborative form and mail to

The Registrar,

Presbyterian University College, Ghana

P. O. Box 59

Abetifi

Offline Application

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1. Application forms can be purchased from any campus of the University for GHC 100.00 for Ghanaian Applicants and $100.00 for Non-Ghanaian Applicants. Alternatively, application forms can be downloaded  here (http://www.presbyuniversity.edu.gh/main/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Admission-form-2015-16.pdf) but applicants must pay before the form can be processed.
2. The completed application form together with results slips/certificates and supporting documents should be submitted to

 The Registrar,

Presbyterian University College, Ghana

P. O. Box 59

Abetifi

 Further information may be obtained from the Registrar on:

Telephone: (+233) 0202277202-5, 7-10

Presbyterian University College, Ghana Visits Presbytery Conferences

As parts of the strategies rolled out by the University to effectively market and widen the visibility status of the Presbyterian University College, Ghana (PUCG) within the country in order to increase student population for the growth of the university, it was the decision of the University to visit the various Presbyteries during their Annual Conference this year.

In all, Thirteen (13) Presbyteries were visited, namely Western, Brong Ahafo, Northern, West Brong, Asante, Sekyere, Ga, Kwahu, Volta, Akyem Abuakwa, Asante Akyem, West Akyem and Akuapem Presbyteries respectively. The various outreach teams were received and hosted warmly by all Presbyteries and offered them the platform to inform them about PUCG and interact with its members.

Among the main reasons for the visit was to reiterate the fact that the PUCG remains the property of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) and thus, the need to strengthen the relationship between the Church and the University in all spheres. Again, the University used the platform to appeal to the various Presbyteries, Groups and Individuals to come and invest in the University by putting up facilities such as Hostels, Lecture Rooms, Administration Blocks, just to mention. Furthermore, as part of measures to acquire a University Chatter, there was an appeal to the Presbyteries to encourage highly motivated qualified professionals within the Church ranging from Professors, Associate Professors, and Senior Lectures to apply and work in PUCG to uplift the status of the University. There was also a general plea to the Presbyteries to encourage their congregations to enroll their wards in PUCG and make it the Preferred Choice.

It is the expectation of the University that, the visit would be an effective channel to attract more investors and prospective students through the Church in diverse ways and attract highly skilled professionals within the Church to join the hard working PUCG team for the total development of the University. The opportunity gave us a forum to deliberate on serious matters affecting the growth of our University. It is our hope that this is going to be a yearly affair, where we will be able to update Chairpersons and Presbyteries on development in PUCG.

---

Rev Kofi Antwi

(PRO – PUCG)

University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA)’s Centre for Public Accountability trains Senior Police Officers

Accra, April 22, GNA - The Centre for Public Accountability (CPA) at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) has held a day’s training programme for 49 senior police officers at the Ghana Police Command and Staff College in Winneba.

A statement issued by the UPSA and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday said, the training forms part of a four-week programme organised by the College for Assistant Superintendents and Deputy Superintendents of the police service who are due for promotion. 

According to Chief Superintendent Oscar Kofi Amevenku, the Director of Studies at the College, the course was intended to build the capacity of the officers in their fields of operation.

The officers were drawn from the administrative, operations and investigation departments from various districts of the country.

Presentations delivered by CPA included the Concept of Accountability; Ghana Public Financial Management Systems; the Financial Laws and Social and Environmental Accountability. 

Dr Albert Kan-Dapaah, the Consulting Director of the Centre, said the importance of teaching the concept of accountability is to build upon Ghana’s democratic achievement and empower the citizenry to hold leadership accountable for their stewardship.

 “Now that you have knowledge of accountability, you are agents of change, and I charge you to spread the word of accountability to your colleagues when you return to your districts,” Dr Kan-Dapaah stated.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Harrison Katso said: “The presentations on accountability have been an eye-opener and we hope to impart the knowledge we have received here today to our colleagues in our various districts.”

Giving recommendations on how the programme could be further enhanced, ASP Sarah Ekua Acquah said, “The training should be a continuous capacity building programme, so that we, the Police would be abreast with information on various issues in the country.”

The training is the second in the series of the community outreach programmes being organised by the Centre for the Ghana Police Service and other security institutions this year.

Source: Ghana News Agency

NGO organizes quiz for Gomoa East District Schools

Gomoa Ekroful, (C/R), April 22, GNA - A United States-based Non- Government Organization (NGO) “NGOLI,” has organized a Mathematics and Science (M&S) Quiz Competition for seven basic schools in the Gomoa East district of the Central Region.

The programme was sponsored by Gentleman Radio.com from the US.

Gomoa Benso Junior High Schools (B), Benso(C), Gomoa  Aboso (A) JHS, Akropong  (SDA) (JHS), Aboso Zion (JHS), Otapirow (D/A) and Gomoa Akropong  Blessed Academy Preparatory JHS participated.

Speaking to the Press, Mr Raymond Amezado, President of the NGO said the competition was to improve the performance of basic school students in the district.

Benso (C) JHS emerged the overall winner.

Mr Amezado who was accompanied by two board members of NGOLI, Ms Tara Jackson and Ms Liza Kotou, said the three contestants of the winning school would be given full scholarships by the NGO to complete Senior High Schools of their choices

According to the President, the NGO came to Gomoa East District through the instrumentality of Mr Ernest Quarm, Assemblyman for Ekroful /Akropong Electoral Area.

He said the second objective was to help eliminate fear and panic among students in solving Mathematics and Science questions in final examinations.

Mr Amezado who is also a Staff Sergeant in the US Army, said plans were far advanced to stock the computer laboratory at Aboso-Benso JHS to improve Information Communication Technology (ICT) studies.

He urged the Gomoa East District Assembly to furnish the NGO with challenges in education for assistance.

The President asked parents in the Gomoa East District and others in the Central Region to provide basic needs for their children to promote teaching and learning.

Mr Quarm said the Assembly had empowered the Gomoa Akyempim and Ajumako Traditional Areas to instituted bye-laws to check parents who refused to send their children to school.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Polytechnic Administrators demand review of conditions of service

Polytechnic Administrators Association of Ghana (PAAG) is calling for immediate review of the conditions of service for its members.
According to the outgoing National President of the Association, Peter Yaw Kosoe, the last conditions of service which was negotiated in 2007 for a two year period is outdated and needs to be reviewed immediately.

In an interview with a cross section of the media in Ho on the sidelines of the 5th Delegates Conference of the Association, Peter Yaw Kosoe lamented how the efforts of the association to get conditions reviewed have been fruitless.

The outgoing President said the Association has resolved to use all available means to ensure that the Fair Wages Commission get to the negotiating table to review the conditions of Service.

He cautioned government not to mistake their choice of dialogue to address the situation as a weakness.

''Its rather unfortunate that we have been working for the past eight years without conditions of service. It is something very serious and I hope that it will not get to the time when we always want to see agitations on the various campuses before we are attended to'' said Peter Yaw Kosoe.

The administrators are also calling for fair and equal treatment of all worker unions within the Polytechnic and the Universities.

The Deputy Volta Regional Minister Francis Ganyaglo assured the administrators of ten Polytechnics of government's commitment to Polytechnic education.

He said polytechnic and vocational education are key to the transformation of the Ghanaian economy, a reason why government is converting polytechnics into technical universities.


Source: Ghana|Joy News|Hubert Mawuli Yevu-Agbi

Gov’t owes over GH¢2m in utility bills – UEW SRC

President of the Students Representative Council (SRC) of the University of Education, Winneba, Abdul Rahman has revealed that the institution owes utility companies about GH¢2 million.

He lamented that because of government’s inability to defray the bills, the Ghana Water Company has cut water supply to the school. 

According to him, the situation is making life unbearable for them. Speaking on Eyewitness News, the SRC president said “we have three campuses, the north, central and the south campus, when I did my checks, I realized that water was not flowing in all the three campuses. 

I was later told that yesterday in the morning the water company came to disconnect our water because of government’s inability to settle the utility bills.

” When asked about the amount involved by Eyewitness News host, Richard Dela Sky, Abdul Rahman said “we owe about GH¢2 million…that is both water bill and electricity bills.”

 He intimated that “we have over 13,000 students on campus and life is uncomfortable on campus. We are having our SRC elections today…this week is going to be a busy week for the university so it’s rather unfortunate that the government is trying to make things unbearable for ordinary students.”

“We are begging the president to listen to the plights of the students.  He should call his people to order, they are not trying to listen to us at all,” he lamented. 

In a related development, tertiary students across the country have kicked against government’s decision to to transfer the full cost of utility bills to students. 

The Education Ministry which is pushing the agenda has explained that government has over the years been saddled with utility bills from public institutions which it has been unable to pay.

Some students who spoke to Citi News said the new directive insisting that it will bring untold hardship to them.


 - By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey /citifmonline.com/Ghana

WAEC's anti-cheating software to detect examination leakages

As bad as the leakage of exam papers are, WAEC cheating detection software will ensure that the practice will not go undetected or unpunished, head of the Ghana office has noted.

The Very Reverend Sam Nii Nmai Ollenu says “we have a software now which will also scan responses of candidates and if there is cheating the software will detect [it]”.

He made no bones about the repercussions of the malpractice in the ongoing Senior High School final examination.

“They will have their subject results cancelled”, he said.

Joy News investigations have uncovered a syndicate leaking examination papers to students willing to pay hard cash for an easy pass.

A leaked paper is estimated at a cost of 1,500cedis, revealed Joy News’ Kwetey  Nartey who helped bust the syndicate.

But WAEC official Felix Akufo-Addo who has seen some of the leaked papers says the papers are "fake". He has also warned students to be wary of persons who claim to have authentic examination papers for sale.

Nonetheless the investigation has led to the arrest of three teachers of Adjena Secondary Technical School in the Eastern region.

The teachers allegedly solve the questions and then supply the candidates with the duplicates of the questions as well as the answers.

Police CID Joseph Obenefo Darkwa confirmed the arrest.

The 2015 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) began in March and is expected to be completed within a month.

In all, 268,771 candidates from 868 public and private Senior High Schools (SHS), are participating in the examination at 866 centres.

Source: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com

Joy News Investigation: 3 Adjena Secondary Technical School teachers arrested over WASSCE fraud

Joy News investigation has led to the arrest of three teachers of the Adjena Secondary Technical School for allegedly helping students to cheat in the ongoing West Africa Secondary School Examinations, WASSCE.

The teachers allegedly solve the questions and then supply the candidates with the duplicates of the questions as well as the answers.

Joy News provided the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service the information leading to the arrest of the three teachers of the school.

Police CID Joseph Obenefo Darkwa who confirmed the arrest said they are treating the arrested teachers as suspects.

He would not name the suspects, at least for now. A canon camera, as well as a laptop were retrieved from the teachers.

According to Joy News' investigative journalist, Kwetey Nartey the suspects were arrested while busy solving a mathematics question which they were going to pass on to the students.

Two of the suspects are Mathematics teachers whilst the third is an animal husbandry tutor.

Meanwhile, the West Africa Examination Council has cautioned students to be wary of fraudsters who claim to be having credible examination questions.

Felix Akufo-Addo who is with the WAEC says they have received multiple reports of leaked examination papers and even sighted some but can say on authority that all those leaked papers are fake.

"All the questions are fake," he stated, adding "a number of fraudsters are going round schools and taking money from unsuspecting students."

Source: Ghana|Myjoyonline.com

NSS Cautions Personnel Over Enrollment Deadline

The National Service Scheme (NSS) has cautioned individuals anticipating to enroll for the 2015/2016 national service to do so immediately to avoid being locked out of the programme. A statement issued in Accra and signed by Dr Michael Kpessa-Whyte, Acting Executive Director of NSS, indicated that the deadline is Monday, May 11, 2015. According to the statement, Mr Kpessa-Whyte said it is only when prospective national service personnel enroll in a timely manner, that the Management of the Scheme will be able to ensure that the deployment and placement information of personnel are released early to achieve the objectives of the Scheme’s new posting calendar. The Management of the Scheme earlier this year announced changes in the posting arrangements and subsequently released registration PINs for prospective service personnel to facilitate their enrollment into the 2015/2016 service programme.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Multi-stakeholder approach needed to inculcate reading in children

Hohoe, April 23, GNA - Mr Henry Hevi, Hohoe Municipal Director of Education, has called for a multi-stakeholder approach to inculcate the culture of reading in school children, especially at the basic-level.

He said greater collaboration among stakeholders including the Government, Ghana Education Service, parents, Non Governmental Organisations as well as the children themselves could make reading a companion of school children. 

Mr Hevi was addressing a workshop of teacher-patrons of reading clubs for some public and private basic schools in Hohoe, organised by the Shalom Word Foundation, a Hohoe-based not-for-profit organisation.

He said reading habits could only manifest in children if the infrastructure in the form of reading materials, provision of well-stocked libraries and the encouragement from school and home were enforced.

He lauded the initiative of equipping the teachers with skills in the establishment of reading clubs to complement the efforts of the school system at shoring up reading habits.

He said this effort would bolster the literacy skills and improve on the standard of education and urged the teachers to be worthy ambassadors of the initiative.

Ms Shallom Abla Lumor, Executive Director of Shalom Word Foundation, said her outfit’s objective was to inculcate the civility of reading in school children and respond to the emerging indifference of children towards reading.

She said the Foundation successfully organised the Hohoe version of inter-schools Spelling Bee competition for basic schools in 2014 and was repositioning itself to replicate it this year.

Ms Lumor appealed to corporate institutions, district assemblies, traditional rulers and philanthropists to join forces to shore up reading habits in children.

Mr Shadrack Kumi, Technical Advisor of the Foundation, said the culture of reading was an engine for progress in education and must be embraced by all.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Seven girls pregnant at one JHS in one term

Fiaxor, April  22, GNA - Seven girls dropped out of school due to pregnancy in one Junior High School (JHS)  in the Keta Municipal Area.

Mr John Gbekor, a Circuit Supervisor (CS) dropped the information at a public forum at Fiaxor.

He, however, would not mention the school.

Mr Gbekor told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) what he said “is not for the media as I have no permission to say so,” but appealed to stakeholders,  especially parents, to live up to their responsibilities towards their children.

Miss Orielia Tudzi, Municipal Girl-Child Education Officer confirmed the story of the seven pregnant girls, but would also not give the name of the school.

She said the education directorate was brainstorming on the rampant pregnancies among school girls in the municipal area.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Trans Africa University College Students In Limbo

Information reaching DAILY GUIDE indicates that an Accra-based tertiary institution – Trans Africa University College - is offering admissions to students, mostly from the West African sub-region and charging them huge sums of money, despite the fact that most of its programmes are not accredited. Some of the aggrieved students came to the office of DAILY GUIDE in Accra yesterday to reveal the development to the paper. According to them, the courses being run by the college as per their investigations are not accredited by the National Accreditation Board (NAB). Despite their findings and protests, they claimed Trans Africa University College continues to run the courses and charges exorbitant fees – $1,700.00 per academic year. “The college presented a certificate to us that it is a degree awarding college duly accredited by NAB,” spokesperson for the students (name withheld) - most of who are Nigerians offering Journalism and Communication Studies course, Business Administration, among others – told DAILY GUIDE. “We contacted the National Accreditation Board and we were told that Trans Africa University College is not an accredited institution. And the PRO of NAB told us that we are wasting our time and money in the school,” he asserted. Aside the fact that the university college’s authorities had succeeded in making the students believe that the school is fully accredited, they had also reportedly succeeded in making the students believe that the school is fully affiliated to the University of Education, Winneba (UEW). However, investigations conducted by the aggrieved students, according to them, revealed that Trans Africa University College had not been able to complete its affiliation process with UEW, thereby making the fate of the students - who are envisaging completing their courses with recognized degree for the job market – hang in the balance. “We went to Winneba to find out whether the school is fully affiliated or not and the deputy director of UEW told us the college reached the stage one of its affiliation but did not complete the process,” according to the spokesperson. “He also told us that the college was to only run certificate programmes as per the affiliation arrangement and that for them they are not aware of the fact that Trans Africa is running degree programmes,” he averred. Meanwhile, director of the institution, Samuel Segbefia, speaking to this paper, dismissed the claim that the school had not been accredited. According to him, his outfit was fully accredited by the National Accreditation Board to run Diploma and Advanced Diploma Courses but that it was only its degree courses that had not been accredited. “All courses have been accredited to the diploma and advanced diploma level and we are in the process of getting accreditation for our top-up courses,” he said adding, “And we have signed an agreement with students to resolve that by the close of this year.” Mr Segbefia further argued that Trans Africa University College was fully affiliated to UEW and that the affiliation agreement was entered into in 2012. Meanwhile, Checks by DAILY GUIDE also indicated that the school is not accredited to run either diploma or degree programmes. All efforts to get NAB to respond to the issue proved futile.

Source: Melvin Tarlue/Daily Guide

NUGS agreed to utility cost sharing policy – Tertiary Education Council

The National Council for Tertiary Education is insisting that the leadership of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) agreed to the implementation of the utility cost sharing policy. The Executive Secretary of the Council, Professor Mahama Duwiejua on the Citi Breakfast Show said although the NUGS President raised some concerns, he agreed with the decision. “The NUGS President keeps saying that he never agreed; yes, they did express their concerns at the meeting but at the end of the day, we had a consensus and all agreed that this was the way forward,” he recalled. NUGS has warned that it will resist any attempt by government to introduce the new policy which will make it mandatory for all tertiary students to pay utility bills. The Education Ministry which is pushing the agenda says government has over the years been saddled with debt to utility providers which in some instances led to the cutting of services to some tertiary institutions. The National President of NUGS, Prosper Dzitse told Citi News, the entire student body in Ghana will mount a strong protest to resist the policy should government go ahead with its implementation. He claimed that during a consultative meeting between all stakeholders including student leaders, NUGS made it categorically clear that the policy will financially burden students therefore his outfit would to resist any attempt by any authority or by government to enforce it.  “Students of this country are already suffering and bearing so much cost and they are therefore not ready to take care of any of those costs they are talking about,” he remarked.  “At the end of the day, we do not want to see anything on the bill of students as utilities,” he warned. Dzitse pointed out that since the stakeholder meeting on March 25, no official document has been released “for us to go through to make the necessary consultation as agreed on.” But Prof Duwiejua argued that at the stakeholder meeting, the student leaders agreed to the decision to allow students to pay their utility bills.  However, there was an agreement that utility bills for school administrations, lecture halls, libraries and laboratories must not be passed on to the students and as a result, “students are to pay for what they only consume in their rooms and this was a fine agreement.” Prof Duwiejua appealed to Ghanaian tertiary students to allow the policy to be implemented “for their own future and the future of tertiary education in Ghana. We have got a reputation in the sub-region…and our certificates are respected wherever we go – these kinds of issues will do quite a lot of damage.” He revealed that the idea of cost sharing of utility bills was accepted in 1997 “but now is the implementation stage and there are difficulties which is what they should concern themselves with.” The cost sharing will include all tertiary institutions and teacher training institutions and once the principle is accepted, the management of the various institutions will have to figure out mechanisms to implement it.

Source: Citifmonline.com/Ghana

POTAG Warns Gov't: Pay Us Or....

The Polytechnic Teachers’ Association of Ghana (POTAG) has called on the government to immediately pay the 2014/2015 Book and Research Allowances due its members to ensure a smooth academic calendar. “It should be noted that the delay in the payment of the allowance is mounting tension on the various polytechnic campuses”. A statement read at a press conference at the end of its national congress in Sunyani and signed by the association’s National President, Mr James Dugrah, said POTAG was aware of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which was signed between it and the government before the payment of the 2013/2014 Book and Research Allowance. “However, it was never agreed upon that the Book and Research Allowances have been scrapped. Thus until a new condition of service is agreed upon between the two parties, the old condition of service is deemed to continue as per Section 107 (3) of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651). The statement said the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) engaged POTAG on two occasions concerning the negotiation and condition of service. It said since that last meeting on January 28, 2015, all attempts to get the FWSC to continue negotiation had failed, adding that “POTAG is expressing our grave disappointment and frustration and a seeming deception concerning this issue”.

Source: Graphic.com.gh