Consider Private Universities in Key Education Policies – MP for Kintampo North Urges Govt
The Vice Chairman of Parliament’s Education Committee and Member of Parliament for Kintampo North, Hon. Joseph Kwame Kumah (popularly known as Jakala), has passionately advocated for stronger support for private universities in Ghana’s education policy framework.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament yesterday during deliberations on the state of tertiary education in Ghana, Hon. Kumah underscored the critical role private universities play in national development, especially in absorbing the ever-increasing number of students seeking higher education opportunities.
“Private universities have consistently supported Ghana’s development agenda by training thousands of graduates across disciplines. Many of them have introduced innovative programmes aligned with global trends, including digital technologies, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence and climate science. We cannot afford to leave them out when shaping national education policies,” he emphasized.
Hon. Kumah drew attention to the rising operational costs private universities face, including high utility tariffs, limited access to government support, and restrictions under current legislation that prevent them from benefiting from statutory education funds such as the GETFund.
“We must take a serious look at how certain Acts, including the GETFund law, can be reviewed to make private institutions eligible for infrastructure support. Their students are Ghanaian citizens just like those in public universities, and they deserve access to quality learning environments,” he stated.
He added that with increasing pressure on public universities due to rising enrolment figures from Free SHS graduates, private universities offer an essential buffer to absorb excess demand, reduce congestion in lecture halls, and help maintain academic standards.
The MP further called on the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), and other relevant stakeholders to adopt inclusive policies that encourage collaboration between public and private institutions in areas such as curriculum development, research funding, faculty development, and digital transformation.
Hon. Kumah also challenged the government to facilitate tax incentives and public-private partnerships (PPPs) that would allow the private sector and the business community to invest meaningfully in higher education infrastructure.
“Beyond rhetoric, we must create a thriving environment where private sector players feel confident investing in the education ecosystem. Private universities are not competitors—they are partners in the national effort to build a skilled and globally competitive workforce,” he noted.
The call has been met with interest from other Members of Parliament, particularly those from regions where private universities serve as the only accessible tertiary institutions for many rural and peri-urban youth.
Some MPs in their contribution to the statement commended the MP and said his intervention is timely, especially as Ghana prepares to review its National Education Policy Framework to align with international benchmarks such as the African Continental Education Strategy and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4) on quality education.
Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com
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