Ho, Aug. 8 GNA - The answer to the country's social, political, economic, scientific and technological challenges can only be found in classrooms and research institutions through quality education. This is because quality education is the catalyst for qualitative and quantitative change which cannot come as a bolt from the blue. The Very Reverend Dr. Livingston Komla Buama, immediate past Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Church, Ghana said these at the launch of the maiden SRC Week celebration of the EP University College, in Ho on Friday.

It was under the theme: "The Delivery of Quality Tertiary Education, the Role of the Student as a stakeholder". The University which was officially opened last year is affiliated to the University of Cape Coast and Eden Theological Seminary in the USA. Rev. Dr. Buama said quality education should not produce "parrots but persons of stature, integrity and ability", who would reflect efficiency and proficiency.

He said quality education could not come by a sudden flight but rested upon a humble and sound foundation adding that without quality basic education it was difficult to have quality tertiary education. Rev. Dr. Buama said: "Today many people go through school but are not schooled. Schooling without discipline is like a zoo", and appealed to students to be disciplined and take their studies seriously to enable them to develop their potentials.

Mr. Joseph Amenorwode, Volta Regional Minister, in a speech read on his behalf, said the rising cost of University education and the inadequate funding from government called for shared responsibility from stakeholders including the student.

"We may be begging the reality if we continue to think and expect that quality tertiary education should be free", he said. Mr. Amenorwode appealed to the leadership of the students to be fair, transparent and realistic in their transactions adding that as stakeholders, students had to play their part well to ensure calm on their campuses.

He bemoaned the alarming rate at which students were getting involved in occultism, cyber fraud, drug abuse and even armed robbery and advised them to shy away from those negative practices. The Right Rev. Francis Amenu, Moderator of the General Assembly of the EP Church, said the church would continue to work with other key players in the education sector to ensure better quality tertiary education to stimulate economic growth.

Mr. Noble Atadi, president of the SRC, promised that as stakeholders, the students would uphold the mission and vision of the University. Activities lined up as part of the week-long celebration are a health walk dubbed "a walk for responsible sexual behaviour, an anti HIV/AIDS awareness programme and fun games.