GUPS leadership at KNUTSFord University College
The National Secretariat of the Ghana Union of Professional Students (GUPS), led by its president, Samuel Nana Yaw Dadzie Smith, has embarked on a comprehensive campus tour spanning over 20 member institutions to foster stronger ties and support for its member institutions.
This landmark campus tour marked a significant milestone in the Union’s history, aiming to reinforce unity and collaboration between GUPS and its member institutions.
Mr Dadzie Smith reiterated the importance of a united front to achieve the Union’s overarching objectives. He encouraged member institutions to lean on the Union for support when faced with challenges beyond their control.
Additionally, he underscored the necessity for meticulous record keeping within each institution to facilitate seamless administration and mentorship for future generations.
Commitment
The National Secretariat affirmed that this initiative represents a ground-breaking endeavour, signaling the Union’s commitment to restoring the prestige of the group.
During the tour, students and institutional heads voiced concerns regarding the challenges encountered by private and professional universities. Of particular concern was the encroachment of government universities into programmes traditionally offered exclusively by private institutions, resulting in a decline in enrollment and existential threats to these institutions’ viability.
Additionally, grievances were raised over the preferential treatment of government universities in student enrollment, exacerbating the strain on private and professional institutions.
The Ghana Union of Professional Students implored the Ministry of Education, through the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, to intervene and ensure equitable distribution of academic programmes to bolster enrollment in private universities.
Inequality
Furthermore, the Union highlighted the inequity in access to student loans, calling for government intervention to sustain these institutions and facilitate student fee payments.
Amidst economic challenges hindering fee payments, the Union echoed students’ pleas for government intervention to alleviate financial burdens.
The National Secretariat of GUPS also appealed to the government, particularly the Ministry of Education, to implement interventionist policies to safeguard the sustainability of private and professional institutions, thereby fostering an environment conducive to teaching and learning.
