The Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, says the government can waive taxes on educational materials and equipment for private schools, following appeals from some private university managements.
During visits to three private tertiary institutions in Accra, Mr. Nortsu-Kotoe assured private schools in the country of significant government support to complement their services. The Committee visited Wisconsin International University College Ghana,
Accra College of Medicine and Regent University College of Science and Technology.
Mr. Nortsu-Kotoe told the management of these institutions that the Committee, along with the Ministers of Finance and Education, would work to support the educational policies and strategies of private universities in Ghana.
“There should be a partnership between government and private universities. We’ll continue to engage with the Ministers of Education and Finance to see what they can do for them. It may not require legislation, but rather a mutual understanding to secure that exemption,” the Chairman said.
He acknowledged the significant contribution of private universities in promoting quality education, stating, “As a committee, we’re happy that private universities are playing a major role.” He said “government cannot do it alone which is why we appreciate what they do.”
The Chairman also emphasized the importance of education for needy students and encouraged them to explore opportunities for student loans or GETFund.
At the Wisconsin International University College Ghana, Vice President of the institution, Dr. Lawrence Kannae, stressed the need for the government to provide research grants to teaching professors to promote research and make teaching and learning more beneficial to society.
According to him, a university without a strong research background cannot be considered among the best; new knowledge can only be generated through research. He stated that GETFund assistance should be extended to private universities and the GETFund Act amended to facilitate this support.
“We also contribute to the production of human resources for this country and beyond, so we deserve assistance in this regard. We’ve awarded scholarships to many brilliant but needy students and give them special attention,” Dr. Kannae said.
The visits aimed to identify challenges facing private tertiary institutions in the country and adopt pragmatic measures to support their academic activities.
