KNUST to establish more Institutes of Distance Learning in C/R
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is to establish Institutes of Distance Learning (IDL) at Moree and Akatakyiwa in the Central Region.
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Chiefs of the communities have released land for the GH¢27 million facility, which will include lecture theatres, conference room, recreational area along the beach, 25 chalets, kitchen, as well as executive lodges and a bar to serve the restaurant.
MoU
The Vice Chancellor of KNUST, Prof. W.O. Ellis, made this known when the institute signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) jointly with the chiefs from the Asebu and the Nkusukum traditional councils, at a ceremony at Moree in the Central Region on Wednesday for the release of the land for the project.
Okatakyi (Dr) Amenfi VII, Omanhene of Asebu, and Nana Kwesi Brebo II, acting Omanhene of Nkusukum, signed for their respective councils, while Professor Ellis initialled for the university.
The Vice Chancellor, in a speech, said the government’s policy on tertiary education and education technology innovations provided the policy framework for Ghanaian universities to increase access to tertiary education.
Access to education
He said the university had taken up the challenge of increasing access to tertiary education through the IDL, adding that the institute had established centres in the regional and district capitals to attain that objective.
He said the university was poised to strengthen its capacity to become an all-round educational institution, indicating that “KNUST is moving into programmes within marine and coastal areas. We are bringing education to the doorsteps of all Ghanaians.”
The Chairman of the University Council, Dr Saarah Mensah, said over the years there had been an increasing need for the development of skills of individuals and that, he said, required making education accessible to all.
He announced that the population of the KNUST students with the IDL was currently at 40,000. He therefore thanked the traditional leaders for releasing the land for the programme.
Okatakyie (Dr) Amenfi said the desire to release the land was “to lighten the flame of education in the area.”
He lauded his colleague chiefs for giving out the land for the project and appealed to the university authority to expedite action on the project.