The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) plays a crucial role in regulating tertiary education in Ghana. However, some critics argue that the commission’s recent focus on individuals using unrecognized academic titles might not be the most productive use of their time and resources.
Mandate and Functions
GTEC’s primary mandate is to regulate tertiary education in all its forms, promoting:
– Efficient Administration: Ensuring effective administration and accreditation of tertiary institutions
– Quality Assurance: Maintaining consistent quality of service across institutions
– Knowledge Advancement: Promoting the advancement and application of knowledge through teaching, research, and collaboration with industry and the public sector
Challenges in Tertiary Education
Rather than focusing on title holders, some experts believe that GTEC should prioritize addressing the following issues:
– Academic Standards: Falling academic standards at universities, including the quality of faculty
– Certificate Validation: Universities awarding certificates to individuals who lack knowledge of the certificate content
– Regulatory Focus: Ensuring regulatory institutions maintain their core mandate
GTEC’s Recent Initiatives
Despite these challenges, GTEC has made significant strides in:
– Digitalizing Accreditation: Launching a digital platform to streamline accreditation processes, reducing paperwork and enhancing efficiency
– Accreditation Reforms: Accrediting over 1,000 university programs and setting deadlines for institutions to comply with accreditation requirements
– Quality Assurance: Working to ensure institutions adhere to guidelines and regulations governing accreditation,
The Way Forward
To effectively regulate tertiary education, GTEC should balance its efforts between addressing academic standards, certificate validation, and ensuring institutions adhere to regulations. By prioritizing these core issues, GTEC can promote a more productive and effective tertiary education system in Ghana.