THE Chairperson of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education, Mr Peter Kwasi Nortsu-Kotoe, has clarified that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) are not limited to students of public tertiary institutions alone.He said the schemes are open to all Ghanaian students, including those in private universities, and urged authorities of such institutions to intensify education and awareness among their students, especially the brilliant but needy, to enable them access the support.Mr Nortsu-Kotoe made the clarification on Wednesday, when members of the committee embarked on a working visit to some selected private universities in the Greater Accra Region, to better understand their operations and identify their challenges.The institutions visited, included the Accra College of Medicine, Wisconsin International University College, Ghana (WIUC-GH), and the Regent University College of Science and Technology.The committee's visit formed part of its broader oversight responsibility to engage with stakeholders and recommend policies that enhance quality education delivery across the country.Mr Nortsu-Kotoe disclosed that the GETFund portal was expected to be opened in December this year, and called on administrators of private universities to guide students in preparing and submitting their applications before the deadline."The government appreciates the role of private universities in tertiary education.
For each student admitted into a private university, government saves about GH¢50,000.
So we encourage private institutions to ensure their students are aware of funding opportunities," he said.At the WIUC-GH, the Chancellor, Dr Paul Kofi Fynn, emphasised the university's commitment to hands-on training to prepare students adequately for the job market."Before a student leaves here, they are already fit for the job, even without internship because we do a lot of practicals," he said.The Chancellor commended public universities such as the University of Cape Coast, University of Ghana, and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, with whom Wisconsin is affiliated, for supporting their development.He lamented the high taxes paid on teaching equipment such as mannequins for anatomy, and called for tax reliefs on educational materials."Private universities should not be looked down on.
We need more professors and improved infrastructure.
