GTEC cautions tertiary institutions over 15% fees increment

After increasing 2022/2023 academic year fees and charges by 15%, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has cautioned tertiary institutions not to overprice their fees above the 15% threshold approved by the parliament.

In a statement shared with AcademicWeek.com, GTEC said it has received numerous petitions from students and other individuals about universities allegedly charging fees in excess of the maximum 15% increase on the 2021/2022 fees.

“This is to kindly remind all public tertiary education institutions to abide strictly by the approval given

Any increases above the approved rate shall be in direct contravention of the fees and charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2022 (Act 1080), and likely to attract sanctions from the Parliament of Ghana,” it said in the statement.

On the request of students, the Commission has also urged tertiary institutions to consider accepting a 50% part-payment of fees to enable students to register at the beginning of the year with the balance to be paid later.

“At the request of the students, we further kindly advise the Management of the institutions to consider accepting a 50% part-payment of fees to enable the student to register at the beginning of the year, with a specific payment plan agreed for the balance to be paid, based on individual circumstances

This is to provide flexible terms of payment and reduce fee-default rate amongst students with genuine financial challenges,” the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) stated in the press release dated December 22, 2022.

GTEC’s comment comes after Ranking Member of the Education Committee in Parliament, Hon. Peter Kwasi Nortsu-Kotoe said that no tertiary educational institution can increase its academic fees by more than 15%.

In a discussion with UniversNews, Mr Nortsu Kotoe indicated that, although an annual increment is allowed, an increase that exceeds the approved 15% threshold is against the “Fees and Charges Act”.

“The passed fees and charges act which are all fees that were brought before the Finance Committee, and I remember very well that as part of the recommendations or the act it was that fees can be increased by 15% every year,” he said

Citing the Fess and Charges Act, the Parliament Education Committee member said it violates the country’s law for any public tertiary education institution in the country to increase its fees far more than the 15% maximum threshold.

“By law, no institution is to increase fees by more than 15%. So, if an institution or organization increases, fees and charges above 15%, is a violation of the law and that is what the students’ unions have brought to our notice. And we agree with them by law, law no institution is to go beyond the 15%,” he said.