Following a meeting with key players in the education sector, the management of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has approved the fees and charges for tertiary institutions for the 2022–2023 academic year.
In a letter shared with AcademicWeek.com, the GTEC said the approval of the next academic year’s fees follows advice they received that alongside the passage of the fees and charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2022 (Act 1080)
“The advice we have received is that alongside the passage of the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2022 (Act 1080), a 15% increase across board should be approved by the Parliament of Ghana for all institutions covered by the Act,” it stated.
The Tertiary Commission in the release added that “Fees and charges applicable in all public tertiary education institutions for the 2022/2023 academic year may be adjusted by up to a maximum of 15% of the last approved rates.”
GTEC citing the Second Scheduled of the Act 1080 said for the avoidance of doubt, any adjustments made to the tertiary institutions’ fees and charges must not exceed 15% of the fees charged for the 2021/2022 academic year
“For the avoidance of doubt, any adjustments made to the Fees and Charges must not exceed 15% of the fees charged for the 2021/2022 academic year,” the letter signed by the GTEC Director-General to the Minister for Education stated.
All prospective Vice chancellors of government universities and Principals of public Colleges of Education (CoE) have been asked to refer to the Second Schedule of Act 1080 for the baseline figures for their guidance.
Meanwhile, the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) following the current financial situation has called on the central government to suspend the increment of public tertiary institution fees for the 2022/2023 academic year.
In a statement shared with AcademicWeek.com, the Students Union said the increasing cost of higher education is crippling the abilities of thousands of Ghanaian students, both at home and abroad, to continue their education.
“Covid-19, the ongoing Russian-Ukraine war, and its ravaging impact have led to a loss of sources of income. Students, the majority of whom are not working, are most likely to bear the consequence of these economic hardships,” it stated.
The suspension of the tertiary institutions fees increment the Ghana Union said will go a long way to ensure that the country does not witness a further increase in school dropouts but for all students can access quality higher education.
“The sustainable development of Ghana can only be guaranteed if we have a knowledgeable workforce. We can only ensure this if we make higher education progressively accessible and affordable for all students,” NUGS noted.
