EPUC in unstable financial state as crafty students evade fee payment
The Evangelical Presbyterian University College (EPUC) in Ho is facing serious financial challenges due to dwindling student intake.
“Non-payment of school fees has also been identified as a major challenge, and some students have managed to evade fee payment over the years,” the President of EPUC, Professor Kenneth Nyalemegbe, has revealed.
He disclosed this at the 17th graduation ceremony of the university college at Ho-Kpodzi.
This comes a day after Professor Nyalemegbe assumed office as the fourth President of the university college.
Reversing the trend
Professor Nyalemegbe said the EPCG recently stepped in to settle a huge debt the university college incurred from contracting a loan from the National Investment Bank and a private company to construct a classroom block.
To reverse the trend, he said, efforts were underway to establish internal income generation avenues, to realise additional funds to augment the school fees.
“There is also an ongoing discussion with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana (EPCG) authorities to institute budgetary allocation, to support the university college,” Professor Nyalemegbe added.
Meanwhile, Professor Nyalemegbe said a proposal had been developed by EPUC for a number of reliable investments in agricultural production, including the production of high-value vegetable crops for local consumption and export.
They included the use of greenhouse technology to produce cassava for sale to factories, mushroom and snail farming, beekeeping, and poultry, among others, he had said.
Graduating students
In all, about 242 students graduated with degrees and diplomas in Agribusiness, Animal Science, Crop and Soil Science, Environmental Science, Arts and Social Sciences, Governance Studies, and Basic Education.
The other areas included English, French, Christian Ministry and Leadership, Music Studies, Business, Business Administration and Corporate Secretaryship.
Among them were 24 graduates from the School of Graduate Studies, with Master's in Business Administration in Human Resource Management, Procurement and Supply Chain Management and Accounting.
The fresh graduates
The Chairman of EPUC Council, Dr G. M. Afeti, said in spite of the challenges facing the university college, more than 70 per cent of its graduates were in full-time employment in the country.
He made it clear that although EPUC was established as a Christian institution, it was also open to students of other faiths and creeds.
Appeal to GETFund
Dr Afeti renewed EPUC’s appeal to the government, through the GETFund, to extend financial support to the university college to place it in a more stable position.
The EPUC Council Chairman entreated the fresh graduates to avoid ethical and religious bigotry and always aspire to greater heights in their places of work.
A representative of the University of Cape Coast, which is a mentor of EPUC, Professor Sarah Darkwa, urged the fresh graduates to use the knowledge and skills acquired at EPUC to contribute to development in a rapidly changing world.
Similarly, a representative of the University of Education, Winneba, Professor Rebecca Akpanglo-Nartey, reminded the fresh graduates that their degrees alone meant nothing if they did not demonstrate their ability to make a positive impact on society.
