Ghana Institute of Journalism holds maiden graduation for degree students
Ninety-nine students who completed four-year Bachelor of Arts programme in Communication Studies at Ghana Institute of Journalism, (GIJ) graduated on Friday.
This is the maiden graduation for degree students of GIJ since the programme began 11 years ago.
Mr Lee Ocran, Minister of Education, in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Paul Dzandu, Deputy Executive Secretary at the National Council for Tertiary Education, said the Ministry appreciated the pivotal role the Institute played in building a solid manpower base for the nation and Africa as a whole.
“The strides being made in our democracy would not have been complete without students of the institute,” he said and added that the Ministry was committed to the development of the full potential of GIJ.
Mr Ocran said while the Government was highly appreciative of the role of journalists in educating the Ghanaian public, freedom of expression had to be guided by responsibility.
“As journalists, we must be mindful of the rights and freedoms of other persons in the discharge of our duties. You must at all times recognise the diversity of the country and promote national unity.”
He urged the graduands to be guided by the principles of factual reporting and ensure balanced reportage and said “Contact the relevant public officials for information before publication on what you might consider to be factual.”
Mr David Newton, Rector of the Institute, said next year marked the end of GIJ’s affiliation with the University of Ghana (UG).
“It is our desire to organise a joint congregation for both the degree and diploma students on our own premises, to assert our independence as an autonomous Institute.”
Mr Newton said after 2013, the relationship between GIJ and UG would change from affiliation to partnership and collaboration of independent institutions and added that “After 11 years of successful implementation of degree programmes, GIJ is poised to mount post graduate programmes”.
The Institute has, therefore, submitted a proposal to the National Council for Tertiary Education, for the introduction of six Masters’ Programmes in Development Communication, Media Management, Political Communication, Journalism, Public Relations and Advertising.
Mr Newton said as the Institute assumed the status of a fully fledged university, “We are mindful of the need to strengthen our quality control systems”.
The GIJ Rector announced that beginning next year, a quality control unit would be established to implement quality control policies, measures and procedures, to support the Institute’s academic goals and objectives.
Source: GNA