Allow us to keep all IGF to run our universities - UMaT VC to govt
The University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, has held its 9th Congregation ceremony at an impressive ceremony at the University Auditorium.
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This year, there were five hundred and ninety-eight (598) graduands receiving various degrees including four (4) Doctor of Philosophy Degrees (PhD), forty-two Master of Science degrees, five (5) Master of Philosophy degrees, five hundred and thirty-seven (537) Bachelor of Science degrees in different engineering programmes of study, with one hundred and forty-one (141) of them in the first class division, nine (9) diploma certificates and one (1) certificate in English Language.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof J. S. Y. Kuma in his report to congregation indicated that as a specialised institution that trained engineers, UMaT’s programmes were designed such that a balance was achieved between theory and practical exercises both in the laboratories and in the field.
This balance according to him was to enable UMaT graduates to get the requisite hands-on skills to prepare them adequately to enter the world of work. Field trips were therefore arranged for all students to mining and allied industries. Additionally, during the vacation, a considerable number of students secured attachment to some mining and allied industries for internship.
Prof Kuma used the occasion to explain to congregation the cost of training one engineering student and the reason why government should allow universities to keep their internally generated funds.
According to Prof Kuma, the norms of the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) provided that, the cost of training one science or engineering student was GH¢36,816.00 per year.
As a public university, Government’s support was currently 22 per cent of this amount. Students’ contribution by way of their fees which is almost exclusively IGF was 14 per cent. This left a funding gap of 64 per cent.
Prof Kuma therefore appealed to Government through the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation as well as the Minister of Education’s representative to request government to reconsider her request to Universities to remit 34 per cent of their Internally Generated Funds (IGF) to central government.
Prof Kuma also appealed to government to lift the ban on replacement and appointment of staff as this was affecting the delivery of quality education and indicated this also puts a lot of stress on the few staff.
The Special Guest of Honour for the occasion, the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, in his address observed that UMaT remained very unique because according to him there were only few countries in the world that had such universities dedicated to the study of mining.
He further said that what he had observed at UMaT in the last decade gives him a lot of hope.
He commended UMaT for its pioneering role in technology where plastic waste is used to upgrade bauxite ore to yield 90% alumina as against the present grade of 40 to 45 per cent.
As a result of the increase in the grade of the ore, the price increase would be about 10 times. He expressed happiness that the technology had been tested successfully on the Awaso Bauxite ore.
He admonished the University to do what was necessary to transition from the test stage to industrial scale whenever the University was called upon to do so. He further indicated that the President of the Republic, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo had plans in place to exploit our deposits of metals such as bauxite and iron.
He implored the University to do well to make these discoveries known to the public, especially the investor community since according to him the private sector was needed badly to create jobs for our young graduates.
He impressed upon the University to ensure that the research work were patented to give more value to the University and the researchers.
The Western Regional Minister, Dr Kwaku Afriyie was full of praise for the good work going on in the University.
According to him although he passed by the University all the time he did not know that UMaT was made of great brains who were doing great things for the development of mother Ghana.
He therefore indicated that the University needed to be supported to grow.
The Minister for Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, in a speech read on his behalf by Dr Emmanuel Newman, the Head of Planning, Research and Policy Development of the National Council for Tertiary Education congratulated the University Administration led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Kuma for the continues application of the best standards in academic programme delivery, which had translated into many in the field who were proving themselves adding that the Ministry of Education recognised UMaT’s continues effort in maintaining the highest standards with respect to the best Student-Teacher Ratio and a very strong quality assurance system which aided high quality outcomes.
To further motivate had working students, those who excelled received the various awards instituted by the University, other organisations and some individuals.
This year the Vice Chancellor’s overall best graduating student went to Mr Emmanuel Boateng Aboah with a CWA of 90.86 from the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department.
His award was made up of a certificate, some books, a laptop and a cash prize of GH¢2,000.
The Laptop and cash prize were sponsored by the Alumni Association and Access Bank respectively.
The Victoria E. Frempong’s award for the best female graduating student went to Ms Francisca Cudjoe of the Department of Mining Engineering and she also received the Eugenia Gifty Kusi’s award of GH¢1 000 for best female graduating student. Other awards from various companies, individuals and organisations were giving to deserving students.