General News of Saturday, 15 July 2017
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
2017-07-15
Some students of the University of Ghana have petition the Speaker of Parliament
Some students of the University of Ghana have petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, Rt, Hon. Prof. Mike Quaye to intervene in what they describe as ‘exorbitant’ increase in the proposed 2017/2018 academic and residential facility user fees.
The petition is praying the Speaker to activate the powers of his office and that of parliament to instruct the school authorities to a re-examine the burden that has brought to bear on the student of the University.
The petition issued on the July 15, 2017, is appealing to the Parliament of Ghana to initiate a process for the presentation of the fees schedule before the floor of Parliament for scrutiny by the members of the House.
Read the full Petition below
PETITION ON THE ASTRONOMIC HIKE IN UNIVERSITY OF GHANA 2017/18
ACADEMIC AND RESIDENTIAL FACILTY USER FEES.
We the undersigned students of the University Of Ghana write to
register our deepest revulsion and dissatisfaction with regard to the
proposed 2017/2018 academic and residential facility user fees; and
further pray that you activate the powers of your office and that of
parliament to instruct a re-examination of the inconvenient burden
that has brought to bear on the pauperized student. Highly plausible
and reliable information emanating from The Dean of Students Affairs
of the institution indicate that, barring any downward adjustment by
the academic board before whom the proposed fees is pending
ratification; students of the prestigious institution would in all
likelihood pay the rather exorbitant fees this academic year.
Also, there exists a glaring certitude that should no charitable
intervention come from your end as the leader of the august House of
Parliament of Ghana and from no other quarters, far many students
shall be left with no other alternative than to defer their academic
progammes due to a downright incapability to pay.
Sir, It is prudent we unassumingly draw your attention to the
perpetual economic difficulty that the average student of the
University Of Ghana is in. We also owe it a responsibility to remind
you of the insecurity South Africa suffered as a result of 10.5%
increment in fees in the country which triggered the aggressive fees
must fall campaign. Residential facility user fees alone has this year
at the University of Ghana experienced an average increment of about
14% and a burden of academic fees has also increases considerably
high. Ghanaian students are of disciplined and refined disposition and
should not be invited to traverse the path of the South African
students.
In addition to the yearly payment of our fees, keeping body and soul
together within the premises of the University is outrageously pricey
and unbearable. It is hypothetical imperative we state ipso facto
that, despite the 60: 30 payment plan granted; a large chunk of
students are left with the obnoxious option of course deferrence.
We therefore pray your office and the Parliament of Ghana in entirety
to step in and rectify the situation for the poor student. In the
exercise of maximum convenience therefore, we propose the following:
1. That you actuate the sacred laws of Ghana by initiating a process
that will lead to the presentation of the fees schedule before
Parliament for scrutiny.
2. That a comprehensive justification for the roof-hitting fees in the face of declining inflation is addended to such a presentation in the august House.
3. That consequently, on the basis of the comprehensive justification,
a rejection of the fees in entirety is established or an instruction
is issued for a downward review.
The right to Education is a fundamental right enshrined in the 1992
Constitution of the Republic of Ghana. Article 25 (1) asserts the need
for the State to work towards achieving a universal free education. It
reads, “higher education shall be made equally accessible to all on
the basis of capacity, by every appropriate means, and in particular,
by progressive introduction of free education”. The University of
Ghana has over the years in aversion to this constitutional provision
been making education overly progressively expensive. It is rather
beffudling over the years that our very adept legislators in
parliament look on unconcerned as this constitutional provision is
blatantly disregarded, ignored and breached.
Sir, It is time parliament is a departure of this unpleasant new
normal. It is your time to reposition parliament to assume its
rightful place in the approval of fees of public universities.
In conclusion sir, we wish to state categorically that the fees is
ungenerously outrageous and for that matter many are those whose
education would be truncated if you do not intervene.
We are hoping to hear well from you soon.
