Parliament break silence on gov’t resubmit of Public University Bill
The Vice Chairman of Parliament’s Select Committee on Education, Dr Prince Hamid Armah has debunked the claim indicating the central government has resubmitted the Public University Bill to the 8th Parliament for consideration.
In a social media post sighted by Thisterm.com, he said it is the Ministry of Education that intends to submit the Open Universities Bill to Parliament to regulate the conduct of distance learning programmes in universities in the country.
“As Vice Chairman of Parliament’s Select Committee on Education, I can confirm that no Public Universities Bill has been tabled again before the 8th Parliament,” the member of the Parliament Select Committee on Education said.
The former National Curriculum and Assessment Council official added “The Ministry of Education however intends to submit the “Open Universities Bill 2023” to regulate the conduct of distance learning programmes in universities
My colleagues from University Teachers of Ghana and all stakeholders in the tertiary education sector must rest assured that the Public Universities Bill which had been discarded has not been brought again before Parliament
The current confusion about which bill is before Parliament is due to a fatal administrative error in the publication of the name of the Bill before Parliament; an error which is expected to be duly corrected in the shortest possible time.”
Dr Hamid’s comment comes after the University Teachers of Ghana (UTAG) expressed dismay over the central government’s decision to re-submit the rejected Public Universities Bill to Parliament for consideration.
“With deep concern, we observe the government’s persistence in pushing through this controversial bill despite widespread rejection from the university community and the higher education environment.
We are particularly dismayed by the lack of consultation or engagement with the University Teachers of Ghana (UTAG), the primary stakeholders and beneficiaries of such legislation.
University Teachers of Ghana (UTAG) vehemently opposes the passage of the PUB in its current form and demands its immediate withdrawal from Parliament.
The disregard for consultation with UTAG, coupled with the alarming disregard for the concerns of the university community, demonstrates a lack of respect for the principles of shared governance and academic freedom
As stakeholders committed to advancing higher education in Ghana, we urge the government to reconsider its approach and engage in meaningful dialogue with UTAG and other relevant stakeholders, including TUTAG
The future of our public universities and the quality of higher education in Ghana depend on collaborative efforts that
respect the voices and expertise of all stakeholders,” the University Teachers said in a release sighted by Thisterm.com.
The Public Universities Bill when passed, will give the government, the power to appoint the majority of members of the University Council. The University Council will then have the power to appoint and dismiss public university officials.
Also, the Public Universities Bill which has been rejected by University Teachers when passed by Parliament will give the President the power to dissolve the University Council which will now have the power to appoint a chancellor.