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The Minister of Education, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has explained that the policy of the government to establish new public universities does not mean that the government is abandoning the existing ones.

She stated that lack of funding and the provision of adequate resources for universities had been some of the major and critical challenges for universities globally.

Responding to concerns raised by some members during a second reading of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development Bill, 2014, she said the government was aware of the challenges of existing universities but would not shirk its responsibility of providing education at the tertiary level as part of the directive principles of state policy.

She said while making efforts to provide the needs for the universities, the ministry would encourage boards and administrators of public universities to be more strategic and innovative in the management of their resources. The minister commended members for their suggestions and support for the bill and assured them that their concerns would be factored into policies as it rolled out new universities.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee on Education, Mr Mathias A. Puozaa, had in its report stated that the establishment of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development would enable the country prioritise the study and research in the environment and related fields to address environmental challenges and promote socio-economic development.

Mr Cletus Apul Avoka, the member for Zebilla asked universities to stick to their core mandates because some of them which had digressed into other faculties had been churning out graduates who could not find jobs and thereby contributing to youth unemployment.

Professor Dominic K. Fobih, member for Assin South and a ranking member for the committee in supporting the bill said the university would play a vital role in development since it would deal with environmental challenges of the country. The member for Ho West, Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, said the university would go a long way to open up and speed the development of the Afram Plains.

Mr Alex Agyekum, member for Mpohor urged the ministry to give leverage for the university councils to effectively manage and develop them. Mr Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, member for Lower Manya Krobo said the new university would help in the training of the youth and urged members to support its establishment.

Dr Opoku-Prempeh, member for Manhyia South said the university was not going to be different from the existing ones and called on the ministry to give a policy direction that would enable it to exploit sustainable resources such as solar, wind power, crop rotation, among others for sustainable development.

Alhaji Seidu Amadu, member for Yapei/Kusawgu said the establishment of the new university offered hope for the safeguard of the environment.

Environmental challenges The Minister for employment and Labour Relations and member for Tamale South, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, said the university should be allocated more resources to build its capacity to meet the environmental challenges of the country.