Tertiary Vice-chancellors to meet GTEC over 50% fee payment

Vice-chancellors of public tertiary institutions are set to meet the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to conclude a decision for tertiary institutions to accept 50% part fee payment of the 2023 academic user fees.

The tertiary education institution Vice-Chancellors are expected to accept the 50% fee deposit policy for all students including fee-paying, regular, fresh or continuing students in various public institutions amid a 15% increase in fees.

The meeting comes after the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) petitioned the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission for government tertiary education institutions to accept a 50% part fee payment this academic year.

In a statement shared with AcademicWeek.com, the Union said the 50% part payment of fees when approved by the government-accredited institutions will allow students to register their courses and pay the outstanding balances later.

“The Students Union in a meeting proposed to GTEC that all public tertiary institutions should be directed to accept 50% part payment of fees to allow students to register and pay the outstanding balances within the year

This we believe is the best way of cushioning students in these difficult times. This directive should cover both fresh students and continuing students,” the leadership of the Ghana Union Students (NUGS) stated in the press statement.

Meanwhile, the management of the Tertiary Commission (GTEC) has cautioned authorities of various government tertiary institutions not to charge fees for the 2023 academic year above the 15% threshold approved by parliament.

In a statement copied to AcademicWeek, 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.