The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has issued a warning to the public, particularly parents, guardians, and prospective students, regarding the use of unaccredited study centres affiliated with the University of Cape Coast (UCC), University for Development Studies (UDS), and the University of Education, Winneba (UEW).
In a statement released today, GTEC revealed that numerous study centres being used by these universities to offer academic programmes are not accredited. As a result, students who pursue courses at these locations risk receiving academic qualifications that will not be recognized by the Commission.
The list of unaccredited study centres includes a wide range of educational institutions across the country, spanning from senior high schools to colleges of education and technical institutes.
GTEC emphasized that these centres do not meet the required standards for accreditation and urged the public to refrain from enrolling in any programmes offered through them.
The unaccredited centres connected to UCC, UDS, and UEW are spread across several regions of Ghana. Some notable ones linked to UCC include Dreamfield International School in Sunyani, Zenith College in Accra, and Holy Child College of Education in Takoradi.
Similarly, UDS has unaccredited centres like the Damongo Agriculture College and Tamale Technical University, while UEW’s unaccredited centres include Accra Academy Senior High School and AAMUSTED in Kumasi.
Risk to Prospective Students
According to GTEC, students enrolled in programmes offered at these unaccredited centres for the 2024/2025 academic year will not have their qualifications recognized by the Commission. This poses a significant risk to students who may invest time and resources into their education, only to have their certificates deemed invalid.
“Applicants who pursue programmes at these centres do so at their own risk,” the statement warned.
GTEC’s Call for Caution
GTEC has urged the public to exercise caution when choosing institutions and study centres for tertiary education. The Commission is taking steps to ensure that only accredited institutions and centres are permitted to offer legitimate academic programmes. They have also advised students to verify the accreditation status of any study centre before enrolling in any programme.
“We strongly advise parents, guardians, and prospective students to avoid enrolling in programmes offered at these unaccredited study centres. The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission will not recognize academic credentials awarded to students who studied at these centres,” the statement read.
Next Steps
GTEC’s announcement serves as a reminder to the public about the importance of accreditation in ensuring the quality and recognition of tertiary education in Ghana. Students are encouraged to verify the accreditation status of any institution or centre by checking with GTEC or through the universities themselves.
The Commission has vowed to continue monitoring tertiary institutions across the country to prevent the spread of unaccredited study centres and ensure that the highest standards of education are maintained.
For more information, GTEC has urged the public to contact its offices directly.
List of Unaccredited Centres
The statement also provided a comprehensive list of unaccredited study centres linked to UCC, UDS, and UEW, with 91 centres for UCC, 21 for UDS, and 48 for UEW.
Conclusion
This warning from GTEC is expected to save many prospective students from the risk of wasting valuable time and money on unrecognized programmes. Parents and students are advised to remain vigilant and seek out accredited educational institutions to secure a valid and recognized education in Ghana.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
