School of Social Work to upgrade academic status
Work has commenced on a two-storey block for the School of Social Work in Accra to transform the school into a tertiary institution.
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The Minister of Gender and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, cut the sod for the commencement of work on the project in Accra on Wednesday.
Authorisation certificate
She said the school in September this year received an Institutional Authorisation Certificate from the National Accreditation Board (NAB) to enable it to run degree and post-diploma certificate programmes.
“We are, therefore, pursuing affiliation with the University of Ghana and the University for Development Studies to finalise arrangements for the institution to have a tertiary status,” she said.
Nana Oye explained that the state needed professionals to handle social interventions in the country, adding that Ghana was the leader in West Africa for its social service and protection intervention policies.
The project, according to the minister, is being undertaken with funds from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and is expected to be completed in 12 months.
The Consultant of the project, Alhaji Mashud Ibn Musah, said the estimate for the building was GH¢1,815,015.
Commendation
For his part, the Principal of the School of Social Work, Dr Mu-awia Zakaria, commended the ministry for the initiative and added that for the past 70 years the school had not undergone any significant structural upgrading to attain full tertiary status, despite its contribution to national development.
The Acting Director of Social Development of Social Work, Ms Comfort Asare, urged the government to make the development of her institution a priority.