UEW On Massive Infrastructure Drive To Admit New Students; As It Awaits Schools Re-opening
The University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has embarked on massive infrastructure development across all its campuses in readiness for the likely re-opening of schools.
Although the University has in the recent past been entangled with some bad press as regards certain developments in the University, management under Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni, sailed above that storm and is working hard to satisfy students’ needs in a bid to meet the vision of the University.
The Minister of State in Charge of
Tertiary Education, Hon. Kwesi Yankah, during a recent tour of the University described UEW as one of the best managed public universities in Ghana.
However, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the University, Enerst Azutiga, in an interview indicated that the Minister of State in Charge of Tertiary Education was right in describing the University as such.
According to him, the University has been focusing on meeting the needs of their immediate stakeholders, thus, its students, to satisfy their needs and improve their experiences as students.
He however noted that some people wanted the university to be run in the media, but management did not allow that to distract whatever they have for the students, hence “we have focused on providing the necessary amenities to improve upon our students experiences. Students have certain needs which we have to meet, and it has always been our focus to create that enabling environment and educational opportunities for them.”
On the university’s preparedness to admit new students into the University for the 2020/21 academic year, Enerst Azutiga stated that the university is ready to offer admission to graduates from the Senior High Schools.
He revealed that the University under Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni, is developing the university’s infrastructure to be able to meet that demand and noted that, the university has constructed and delivered Five (5) lecture theaters at its North campus; Eight (8) others under construction at the North campus with a 500 seating capacity each.
“The student center which is one of its kind in the country, is also under construction. The university is also constructing three (3) 2000 bed capacity hostels; a 100 bed capacity hospital is also under construction; and the construction of access roads”.
According to him, most of the projects mentioned are funded from the University’s Internally Generated Funds (IGF)
On the COVID-19 Protocols,
Enerst Azutiga revealed that the university has since March 2020, moved their academic activities online, migrating their students onto the Learning Management System.
He said the University is also prepared to ensure that when schools reopen, management will do everything to ensure that whatever protocols are endorsed for the lifting of the ban on social gathering are followed at the University.
He further stated that providing the students with quality education will continue to be on the university’s agenda and that the university is awaiting whatever directives that will emanate from the President, HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to mitigate the pandemic for them to adjust and provide excellent services to their students.
Commenting on the recent ruling by the Supreme Court (SC) on the election of the University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Enerst Azutiga said that, publications claiming that the Supreme Court quashed the ruling of the High Court over the election of the PRO-VC was misrepresentation of what the SC determined.
According to him, the matter of the election of the PRO-VC was not the matter before the Supreme Court to determine and that, the SC in its wisdom ordered that the matter be brought back and placed before the Winneba High Court to determine.
He said until that determination is made, claims that the PRO-VC election was nullified are frivolous.
It would be recalled that after the nomination of three (3) Professors to contest for the vacant position of Pro-VC in accordance with the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) Act 2004, Act 672, a lecturer at UEW, Dr. Frimpong Kaakyire Duku, filed an injunction at the Winneba High Court in June 2019 to stop the election from taking place, but the suit was dismissed on procedural grounds and the election took place.
But Frimpong, dissatisfied with the decision, headed to the Supreme Court with his suit.
The apex court eventually ruled that the original case be heard in full by the High Court.
Frimpong in his suit, had said participation in the process for the election of a Pro-Vice-Chancellor was limited to a chosen few to the disadvantage of other equally qualified persons.
By Prosper Agbenyega
