Does one really require physics to study medicine? - Questioning outrageous entry requirements of Ghanaian universities
Permit me a space in your prestigious newspaper to draw attention to a critical yet overlooked issue of national importance: the arbitrary and often restrictive entry requirements of Ghanaian universities.
Two years ago, I assisted my nephew, a brilliant Senior High School graduate with an A1 in both Core Mathematics and Elective Mathematics, in seeking admission to the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR).
His goal was to study BSc Computer Science, but to our dismay, the university insisted on Physics as a non-negotiable requirement.
Despite his exceptional mathematical ability, he was denied admission because the university required Physics as a mandatory subject for admission to their BSc Computer Science programme.
I contacted a faculty member from the department to inquire about the rationale for this requirement.
He could not offer a cogent justification but insisted it was non-negotiable.
I pointed out to him that the University of Ghana does not require Physics for the same programme and suggested a review of this policy for future admissions.
However, the requirement has persisted to this day.
This experience left me perplexed as my nephew had to settle for BSc Mathematics, with hopes of pursuing Computer Science at the graduate level.
While Physics might seem essential for engineering programmes, it is questionable for Computer Science, where mathematical reasoning and logic are far more critical.
Fast forward to this year, I encountered a similar predicament. My niece, a Home Science graduate with stellar grades, including A1 in Core Mathematics and in all her electives except for Biology where she earned a B2, aspired to pursue BSc Nursing at KNUST.
Despite her strong academic record, she is unable to go to KNUST, or UCC (her second preference) and we’ve had to look elsewhere because she lacks Physics and Chemistry, which are non-negotiable admission requirements for BSc Nursing at the School.
By contrast, the University of Ghana, the University of Development Studies (UDS), and other institutions accept students from diverse academic backgrounds for the same programme.
This inconsistency in entry requirements is glaringly evident across universities as they highlight the lack of a standardised approach to admissions.
And lest I forget, does one really require Physics to succeed in a career in Human Biology (commonly referred to as Medicine)? Judge ye!
The inflexibility of some institutions' entry requirements limits the potential of students, often penalising them for decisions made during their formative years.
These outdated and arbitrary policies risk stifling innovation and denying opportunities to capable young people.
It seems evident that most of our universities have not undertaken a serious review of their entry requirements in decades.
Why are our universities—supposed bastions of innovation—clinging to rigid and irrelevant standards that do not reflect the realities of the 21st century?
I strongly recommend that the Ministry of Education and relevant stakeholders establish a central body to review and standardise entry requirements across our universities.
This reform is essential to ensure that talented students can maximise their potential and seize the vast opportunities of our time.
A nation striving to compete on the global stage cannot afford to hold its youth back with outdated policies.
That said, I wish to commend the University of Ghana for its leadership in demonstrating flexibility in the entry requirements to most of its programmes, and I want to urge other universities to follow suit in the interest of our youth and our nation. Our collective future depends on it.
Sincerely,
Paul Ayamah.
payamahp@gmail.com