University of Cape Coast to reject 13,450 applicants

Cape Coast July 16 GNA-Only 3,650 out of 17,000 qualified candidates who have applied to read various courses at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) for the 2003/2004 academic year, would be admitted. The Vice- Chancellor of the UCC, Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Adow Obeng, who disclosed this on Wednesday, explained that this situation has come about because of lack of adequate lecture halls and accommodation. Rev. Prof. Obeng, was inaugurating the reconstituted 12-member board for the Centre for Continuing Education, headed by the Pro-Vice Chancellor, Professor Kobina Yankson, at the UCC.

Last year the University, was also able to admit 3,700 out 12,000 applicants.

The board is to, among others, give general guidelines and directions towards the operation of the Centre, as well as advise the Academic Board on issues pertaining to its academic, physical, financial and human resource development.

The Vice-Chancellor, underscored the important role higher education by distance learning, played in national development, as well as in the economic well-being of its beneficiaries, hence its inclusion in the UCC's strategic plan.

He said that the Centre was established in 1997 to primarily, among others, provide opportunities for workers in general, to upgrade their academic and professional competencies through the district learning at their workplaces.

He said from an initial intake of 750 basic school teachers in 2001,more than 2,500 teachers were admitted last year, adding that the Centre hopes to increase its intake for the 2003/04 academic year. According to him, by the year 2005, after all modules have been written, Centre would move into intensive use of ICT, including radio broadcasts, tele, audio-video and computer conferencing.

He urged the board, to initiate linkage and collaboration with local and foreign institutions, and take advantage of Government's emphasis on, and public demand for distance education, develop and mount appropriate programmes.

The Vice-Chancellor, however, cautioned that increasing enrolment without a corresponding increase in infrastructure and other resources, could overburden the centre and collapse it. "We are also in competition. We cannot therefore allow the quality of our programmes to decline. So the temptation and trap of large enrolment must be avoided", he declared.

On behalf of the board, Professor Yankson expressed gratitude for the confidence reposed in them, and pledged to work hard to enable the Centre to achieve its aims and objectives.

Professor Victor Gadzekpo, Dean of Faulty of Science, who presided, appealed to the centre to include science disciplines in its programmes.

Professor Yankson, later presented a "Resograh" high speed printer and photocopier with accessories, valued at about 43.5 million cedis, to the central administration of the UCC.

Rev. Professor Obeng, who received the equipment, thanked the Centre for the gesture and hoped that it would enhance administrative work at the University.