The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has become one of the most important regulators in the country’s education sector, yet many Ghanaians are not fully aware of their scope of work.

Established by the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), the Commission is responsible for safeguarding the quality, credibility, and integrity of all tertiary institutions in Ghana.

Their mandate covers the accreditation of universities and programmes to monitoring performance and even regulating the use of academic titles.

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This GhanaWeb article explains the central role of GTEC in shaping the future of higher education in Ghana.

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), established under the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023), is the main body responsible for regulating and overseeing all tertiary education institutions in Ghana.

Its mandate covers accreditation, quality assurance, qualifications, monitoring, and policy guidance to ensure a robust and credible tertiary education system.

Accreditation of institutions and programmes
One of GTEC’s core mandate is the accreditation of tertiary institutions and their programmes. Working in collaboration with the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) and professional regulatory bodies such as the Medical and Dental Council, the Legal Council, and the Nursing and Midwifery Council, GTEC ensures that academic, professional, and technical/vocational programmes meet required standards before they are rolled out.

Ensuring quality and standards
GTEC plays a crucial role in maintaining the quality of tertiary education. It monitors teaching, learning, research, and innovation within institutions and evaluates their internal quality assurance systems. This is to ensure continuous improvement in governance, operations, and outputs.

Regulating qualifications and titles
The Commission also develops and implements the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and oversees the National Learners’ Records Database, creating a standardised system of academic recognition. It regulates the use of higher education titles such as “Professor,” “Doctor,” and “Chartered” statuses are conferred on graduates. It also determines how locally awarded certifications match foreign degrees and diplomas awarded outside Ghana.

Monitoring and evaluation
As part of its mandate, GTEC assesses the performance of tertiary institutions against verifiable indicators including research output, quality of teaching, and innovation. This ensures that institutions operate within their approved mandates and maintain the standards required of them.

Policy advice and publication of information
Beyond regulation, GTEC advises government on policies relating to tertiary education and works with other agencies to align education with Ghana’s development priorities.

It also publishes official lists of accredited institutions and recognised qualifications to protect students and the public from unaccredited institutions.

In short, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission serves as the watchdog of the country’s tertiary education sector, ensuring quality, credibility, in alignment with national development goals.

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