The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has expressed deep concerns over the alleged victimization of student leaders by university authorities.
According to the union, it has received complaints of several incidents of harassment, intimidation, and unfair treatment towards local NUGS leadership.
The union has fumed over this situation emphasizing that it undermines student rights and academic freedom within the various educational institutions.
Daniel Oppong Kyeremeh, President of NUGS, in an interview with Citi News, highlighted numerous cases where student leaders have faced victimization from school authorities for advocating for improved welfare.
He cited an instance, stating “Recently for the past two years GTEC and even parliament has passed the 15% cap…you get to the UDS Navrongo and you realize that the school management has increased their fees more than 15%.
“Student leaders have been engaging them severally to ensure they comply by the 15% but at the end of the day the management has taken an entrenched position and has decided not to listen to students and now most of our students are on the verge of dropping because management do not want to listen to student leaders and this is prevalent in other institutions as well”.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) in a letter copied to the Minister of Education confirmed the approval of fees in Public Tertiary Education Institutions for the 2022/23 Academic Year.
In the letter, all public tertiary institutions may adjust their fees for the academic year by up to a maximum of 15% of the last approved rates. The letter also stated that any institutions that will go beyond the 15% will be engaging in illegality.
“I write about inquiries being made at this office by various stakeholders on the above subject.
“The advice we have received is that, alongside the passage of the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2022 (Act 1080), a 15% increase across the board was approved by the Parliament of Ghana for all institutions covered by the Act.
“Please be advised therefore that Fees and Charges applicable in all Public Tertiary Education Institutions for the 2022/2023 Academic Year may be adjusted by up to a maximum of 15% of the last approved rates,” the letter reads.
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