All educational institutions to enjoy GETFund facilities

Accra, June 30, GNA - Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, Minister of Education on Monday reiterated the intention of government to make the GETFund available to all educational institutions.

To this end, the Executive is reviewing the GETFund Act to make it possible for private institutions to benefit from the fund. Mr Tettey-Enyo made this known when he read a speech on behalf of President John Evans Atta Mills at the launch of the Jayee University College's five-year Strategic Plan.

It was on the theme: "Customizing Education to meet current human resources needs: implications for private tertiary institutions." The plan has outlined a number of objectives which include quality in teaching, learning, and research; introduction of customized and career-oriented programmes; improving on the infrastructure and other facilities; building effective governance and management structure; improving upon the finances of the institute among other things. Mr Tettey-Enyo said private participation in every quarter of nation-building must be done with not just the plain motive of making profit but must be guided by achievable standards of efficiency and excellence.

"I believe that a good, efficient and proactive public sector is a necessary pre-condition for national development and private sector growth, since it is the apparatus that oils the engine that creates wealth in every democratic era."

Mr Tettey-Enyo acknowledged many challenges such as lack of policy direction and funding, which mainly comes from fees and some cases sponsors but said, notwithstanding those problems the Jayee University College should strife to attain the reputation and quality of what others like Japan, the Philippines, South Korea and the USA, by building its own "Ivy Leagues" in Africa.

He commended individuals, corporate organisations and churches that have risked capital, energy and sacrificed to start private universities.

Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, Chairman of the Governing Council of Jayee University College who delivered a paper on the theme said customization of education could not take place if the nation does not have a well-articulated master plan specifying its educational and training needs.

He said there was therefore the urgent need to develop such a framework, nationally non-partisan agreed upon and respected by all governments.

Prof Anamuah-Mensah said this framework should identify not only the broad areas of concern but also provide details on specific skills required in the different areas and make available to all tertiary institutions as well as the industries and private entrepreneurs. He said the formulation of such a plan should be jointly carried out by the government, the private sector, research and higher learning institutions and should be subjected to review every three to five years.

"Strategies for implementing the plan may differ depending on the government of the day, but the goal should be the same." He said customization should not be restricted to tertiary education but should start from pre-tertiary education, which should constitute its foundation where pupils/students would be re-oriented or pre-disposed to the expectations at the tertiary level. Prof Anamuah-Mensah said by turning Jayee University College into an entrepreneurial organisation both students and teachers should demonstrate the entrepreneurship culture in their activities. The college should ensure that students develop the capacity to transform ideas into business enterprises as a pre-requisite for graduation.

He said these activities would transform students and their teachers to become change agents who would participate actively in creating a culture of innovation among businesses and institutions. Mr John Emmanuel Donkoh, President of the College said in response to its corporate social responsibility, it provides scholarship to five gifted but needy students each year and so far about 140 students have benefited from the scheme since 1989. He said the college has estimated GHc388, 960 for its five-year strategic plan and appealed to stakeholders in education to assist the academic facility to grow.