Polytechnics shut down; UCC suspends reopening

• Posted on August 9, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Ghana’s Education is heading for a crisis situation as the University of Cape Coast suspends its date of reopening as university lecturers protest non-payment of books and research allowance.

The students of the university are already wailing over the possibility of sitting at home when their reopening date is due.

Two of the students told Joy News they cannot afford to be at home. Deadline for their registration is August 15, 2014 but with the suspension of their reopening date, the students do not know their fate.

“Do our leaders really think of us?” one of the continuing students, Jacob Paul Ahetor asked. He charged the Education Minister to quickly resolve the grievances of the lecturers and get them backc to work.

The UCC students join the army of polytechnic  students who are already at home because their institutions have been shut down.

The Polytechnic teachers are also protesting non-payment of books and research allowance.

The University of Cape Coast is the first of the public universities to suspend its date of reopening.

Head of Public Affairs at the University of Cape Coast, Daniel Turkson confirmed the suspension in an interview with Joy News

“Due to UTAG strike, teaching and learning cannot be done on campus when there is a strike.

“So management met and took this decision that fresh men and continuing students should stay at home for some time.

“It appears the advantages are better when they are on campus,” he indicated to Joy News’ Francis Abban.

“As to how long they will stay[at home], only God knows” he added.

The University of Ghana however says its planned reopening date remains unchanged even though UTAG is on strike.

He said the University management is yet to take any substantive decision on what to do with the students after they have reopened.

While tertiary institutions  shutdown, the Conference of Head of Assisted Senior High schools CHASS has also threatened not to reopen by September 1, 2014 if all outstanding subsidies are not paid.

Government has paid subsidies for only the first term of the 2013-2014 academic year, a situation that has left creditors breathing down the neck of school authorities.

President of CHASS, Samuel Ofori Adjei told Joy News it will be difficult to keep up if the subsidies are not paid before schools resume.

-Daily Guide