Following reports of controversial clauses in the newly drafted Public Universities Bill, a ranking member on Education Committee of Parliament, Peter Nortsu has said the committee will kick against sections of the policy that affect the autonomy of universities.
Among other things, the draft Bill, which has been sighted by Citi News, gives the President the power to dissolve and reconstitute the governing council of a public university in cases of emergencies.
The President is also given the power to appoint an interim council to operate for a stated period. Per the draft, a University council shall consist of nine persons including a chairperson nominated by the President.
But responding to the reports emanating from the Bill, Mr. Nortsu said it is in Ghana’s interest to safeguard the semi-autonomous status of universities.
The MP said the already existing supervision through governing councils was enough for the state.
The Education Committee will make a recommendation when the Bill comes before it and Mr. Nortsu assured that “when it comes in its entirety, we will look at it and where it aims at making government control the universities, we will kick against it.”
Source: Fiilafmonline/Citi
