The Private University Students Association of Ghana (PUSAG) has observed with great concern, the seemingly neglect of private tertiary universities in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.
We have also observed the total exclusion of Private Universities from the various stakeholder engagements and consultations intended to help control the spread of the pandemic and also on the initiatives being proposed to cushion the universities in these difficult times.
It is however unfortunate that, the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic has become the sole responsibility of students especially those of us in the private universities.
In this regard, PUSAG will like to call on government to consider Private Universities in all its consultations and policies on university education in these abnormal times.
Following a thorough observations and consultations with key stakeholders on how Private Universities will survive in this trying times, the umbrella union for private university students, PUSAG will like to respectfully ask government to consider the following;
I. Create and give a stimulus relief package for Private Universities in terms of direct- ing the banks to offer interest free loans; we believe this would help management of the various universities in addressing the financial repercussions they face currently.
II. We are equally pleading with government to include the Private Universities in every other action or policy it will take to address the challenges that confront the e- learning projects. It has become very evident that the e-learning platforms being run by the various institutions come with several challenges that prevent our colleagues from assessing the platforms; whereas managements continue to remain adamant.
III.There is currently a wave of agitation across all the Private Universities regarding the payment of affiliation fees by our students. We are urging Parliament to expedite action on the Education Regulatory Bodies Bill, 2019, which is intended to address the financial implications of affiliation on our students; especially in these short diffi- cult times.
IV. Inherent in our fees, some schools bill their students for certain things including I.T fees, Maintenance/Utility fees, Sports/Recreation fees, Library fees and among others. As an Association, we are using this same medium to plead with management of the various institutions to grant reliefs to their students by way of suspending or reducing to the barest minimum, charges on these components as contained in the fees for students.
‘’PUSAG is calling on managers of the various private universities in Ghana, to as a matter of urgency take steps to address the challenges that have come with the intro- duction of the e-learning project.”
We believe that addressing these few challenges would go a long way in reducing the financial burden on students in the various Private Universities in the country.
Amoako Afoa Linda Alswel O Annan (General Secretary) (National President /CEO)