Gov’t not competing private sector in education – President Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday stated that the establishment of public universities at areas where private tertiary institutions exist was not a move to compete with them, but to complement their efforts.
He said government would continue to partner the private sector in the provision of schools and other infrastructure that would help propel the development agenda of the country.
President Mahama stated this when he inaugurated a 12-member Eastern Region Public University Committee at the Flagstaff House, Kanda, in Accra.
Dr Christine Amoako-Nuamah is the convener of the committee, while Professor Raymond Bening, a former Vice Chancellor of the University for Development is the Chairman of the University, which would be called “the University of Sustainable Environmental Studies, and Applied Research.”
Other members are; Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyeman, Minister of Education, Ms Helen Ntoso, Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Solomon Asoalla Ministry of Energy, Dr Paschal Atendam, College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences, Daasebere Dr Oti Boateng Omanhene of New Juaben and Dr Osei Kofi Darkwa, President of Ghana Telecom University.
The rest are; Mr Kwame Dattey Executive Secretary of the National Accreditation, Professor Mahama Duwiejua, Executive Secretary, National Council for Tertiary Education, Dr Paul Effah, Higher Education Consultant and Dr Nicholas Iddi, Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology.
The Committee, apart from coordinating the activities that would lead to the establishment of a Public University in the Eastern Region, in fulfilment of President Mahama’s 2012 campaign promise, would also supervise and evaluate the activities until the first matriculation.
The Campuses would be located at Somanya and Donkorkrom, both in the Eastern Region and would provide courses relevant to environment and desertification issues.
President Mahama said the establishment of the University in the only region that had no public University was to create more access to tertiary education for students of the region and beyond.
The President, who commended the religious Missions for their tremendous contribution to education, gave the assurance that the goals would be achieved, with the calibre of people in the Committee.
Dr Amoako-Nuamah, Convener of the Committee said the National Democratic Congress administration had the track record of establishing tertiary institutions and gave the assurance that they would work tirelessly to achieve that goal.
Source: GNA