Comment: Support Private University Education

Unlike years back when students, who completed their secondary education, had to go through hell to gain admission into the nation�s public universities, the situation today is entirely different. Today, with the upbringing of various private tertiary institutions, parents do not have to worry again when their wards complete their secondary education. Today institutions like, the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), the Central University College, the Pentecost University College, the Presbyterian University College, Valley View University, Wisconsin University College and the Catholic University amongst many others, are offering the same level of education for the benefit of the under-privileged ones who could not gain admission into the public universities such as the University of Ghana, Cape Coast University, the University College of Education or the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). These universities have not only been of tremendous assistance to secondary school graduates, but also to workers who would want to further their education. Interestingly, they have even come up with wonderful courses and programmes, which in effect, save the present day students from all those courses university students in the public universities had to go through. These private universities are unnoticeably pushing the public universities to look again at their very cumbersome criteria for admission and to also reconsider their curricula. We on The Independent are worried that, even though these private universities become institutions of national importance, government has turned its back on them. Even though, they have struggled to put strategic facilities in place for the benefit of the students, government in spite of various calls to support them, has not yielded to this plea. Some have argued that, since they charge higher fees, they should be able to support themselves. The bigger picture for us on The Independent it that, lecturers who but for the up-springing of these private universities devoted their time to teaching the students in the public universities, are today concentrating more on the private universities because they are paid well and on time. The implications of this would leave much to be desired. We humbly call on the Ministry of Education and the Central Government to be proactive in this direction and act now. The danger ahead might not be seen now, but it could be very huge. A stitch in time, they say, save nine and procrastination is also the thief of time. Let us as a country endeavour to support our private universities for obvious benefits.