NUGS calls for 50% increase in student loan

Accra, Dec. 21, GNA - The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) on Friday called for a 50 per cent increment in the student loan to enable them to cope with high economic demands and standard of living on campuses.

It said government should also reconsider its decision to implement the tax on mobile phone air talk time, considering the fact that many students, who were mostly unemployed were on phone.

These were a five point resolution adopted at the NUGS Central Committee meeting at Mampong campus of the University of Education Winneba at Asanti Mampong when the students discussed the state of the union, the Student Loan Trust, the GETFund and other issues affecting the welfare of students.

The Union called on government to make more resources available and to pay serious attention to quality teacher training, since the success or failure of the reform depended on the input of teachers. On the state of the Union, it said though NUGS had over the years suffered a number of setbacks in its quest to ensure the welfare of students, the 2007-2008 executives were determined to work hard to repackage the union.

It said the Union would also commit itself to the interest to students in school and working beyond to secure the future of graduates, considering the fact that it was becoming increasingly difficult for young graduates to gain employment.

The NUGS Central Committee is the second highest decision making body comprising Student Representative Council Presidents, local NUGS Presidents, national officers of NUGS, bloc Presidents and their secretaries and other accredited student officers.

It said the two-day meeting also instituted a committee to examine certain aspects of the new Educational Reform, especially in reference to the introduction of the Religious and Moral Education, after which the Union would meet stakeholders and the sector Ministry to discuss the committee's findings.