Regulate use of honorary doctorate titles - Deputy Education Minister to GTEC
Professor Kingsley Nyarko, the Deputy Minister of Education, has called on the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to enhance its efforts in regulating the use of doctoral titles in the country.
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Prof. Nyarko expressed concern that the unregulated conferment and use of honorary doctoral degrees could undermine the true essence of academic achievement in Ghana.
“While the attainment of an honorary doctorate degree is an honour and an achievement, it should not be prefixed to one's name. If the practice continues unchecked, it could diminish the pursuit of formal graduate studies. If obtaining a doctorate title is as easy as buying one, there would be little incentive to pursue rigorous academic study,” he emphasized.
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The Deputy Minister made these remarks during a visit to GTEC in Accra on Tuesday, as part of his familiarization tour of agencies under the Ministry of Education.
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During his visit, Prof. Nyarko familiarized himself with GTEC’s strategic plans and policies. He praised the collaboration between GTEC and the Commission for Technical and Vocational Educational Training (CTVET) in maintaining quality assurance in private tertiary institutions.
He also commended GTEC for helping institutions like Ashesi University, Pentecost University, and Methodist University obtain Presidential Charters, allowing them to operate as independent educational institutions and award their own degree certificates.
Prof. Nyarko revealed plans to upgrade some colleges of education to university status to diversify programmes, increase student enrolment, and improve the gender ratio in higher education to 40% female participation.
Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, Director General of GTEC, thanked the Deputy Minister for his support and assured him that GTEC would continue to fulfill its mandate effectively. He highlighted initiatives such as addressing infrastructure deficits and implementing a distance education policy to regulate distance learning in tertiary institutions.
Despite the government's support, Prof. Abdulai noted that GTEC faces financial challenges and appealed to the Deputy Minister for additional support.