The government has unveiled plans to establish two new public universities in Ghana, with a GH¢100 million allocation proposed to support the development of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) campus at Kenyase. The move forms part of a broader agenda to increase opportunities for higher education, research, and innovation across the country.
Plans to Establish New Public Universities
The government is working towards ensuring that every regional capital has an institution dedicated to higher learning, research, and innovation. A committee, known as the Amoako Nuama Committee, has been tasked with developing recommendations and a roadmap for the establishment of additional public universities. This includes plans to create a dedicated university for teacher education, the proposed National Teacher University, which is expected to bring all 48 public colleges of education under one university structure.
The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has disclosed that he has directed the Administrator of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to make provision for the GH¢100 million allocation in the 2027 funding formula to support the UMaT Kenyase campus. He stated that he had directed a letter to the Administrator of GETFund for the 2027 formula to make an allocation of GH¢100 million to support the take-off of the Kenyase campus, with the intention of expanding it to establish a new university.
National Teacher University on the Cards
The government is carefully examining the establishment of a National Teacher University, with Peki being considered as the possible location for the institution. This move aims to bring all 48 public colleges of education under one university structure, with the colleges becoming constituent institutions of the new university. The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has stated that final decisions on the creation of new public universities will be guided by the recommendations of the Amoako Nuama Committee when it submits its report.
Implications for Education in Ghana
The establishment of new public universities and the proposed National Teacher University has significant implications for education in Ghana. The move aims to increase opportunities for higher education, research, and innovation across the country. The government's efforts to expand access to tertiary education are expected to benefit students and the broader Ghanaian community. However, the success of these initiatives will depend on the implementation of the plans and the allocation of sufficient resources.
The government's plans to establish new public universities and the proposed National Teacher University are a step in the right direction for education in Ghana. The country's education system has faced numerous challenges in recent years, including limited access to higher education and inadequate resources for research and innovation. The establishment of new public universities and the proposed National Teacher University has the potential to address these challenges and provide opportunities for students and the broader Ghanaian community.
Source: Joy Online
