A Matriculation ceremony has been held at the University of Ghana Learning Centres to welcome the 2016/2017 group of Distance Education students enrolled at the University.
The ceremony was held concurrently at the Accra, Kumasi and Tamale Learning Centres. The ceremony at the Accra Learning Centre had freshmen and women from Tsito, Koforidua, Takoradi, Cape Coast and Accra. The one at the Kumasi Learning centre comprised students from Sunyani and Kumasi and the Tamale Centre had students from Wa, Tamale and Bolgatanga.
The programme in Accra commenced with a welcome address by the Acting Registrar, Mr. Enoch Amartey. He congratulated the students on being admitted into various programmes at the School of Continuing and Distance Education (SCDE). He reminded the students that matriculation marks the official welcome of students and it was therefore mandatory for students to attend the ceremony. He encouraged students to be active participants in school activities.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, in his address, noted that during matriculation, students pledge their allegiance to the authority of the University through the administration of the matriculation oath.
The Vice-Chancellor said the University offered admission to 25,295 applicants in the 2016/2017 academic year out of which a total of 1,494 new students were registered for various programmes under the Distance Education programme. He also mentioned that the University in the third year running is still offering admission to sportsmen and women applicants from less endowed schools and those with disabilities. He called on the sportsmen and women to work effectively by combining their participation in sports and academic work.
Professor Owusu outlined the 18 new undergraduate and graduate programmes in the University including the following courses offered by the College of Education:
• M. A Educational Leadership and Management
• MPhil. Educational leadership and Management
• Bachelor of Arts in Education( Teaching and Non-Teaching)
• Bachelor of Science in Education (Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics options)
He also noted that new diploma programmes had been mounted by the College of Education and would be running in the 2017/2018 academic year. These included:
• Diploma in Accounting
• Diploma in Public Administration
• Diploma in Statistics
• Diploma in Librarianship
• Diploma in Archives Administration
• Diploma in Adult Education and
• Diploma in Youth and Development
He indicated that the University will re-introduce admissions for mature candidates seeking to pursue undergraduate programmes through the distance mode with effect from the 2017/2018 academic year.
In the area of excellence, the Vice-Chancellor stressed that education comes with responsibility. Consequently students are obliged to use the knowledge acquired to develop their communities. He challenged them to be active citizens in their various communities. He also encouraged them to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors and work hard to attain laurels for themselves, the University and the nation at large. “The university is governed by rules and regulations and I urge you all to carefully read the regulations which you have been given and follow the procedures accordingly,” he added.
Professor Owusu reaffirmed that the primary aim of the students in the University is to study hard and graduate with flying colours. He therefore urged students to have the end in mind and channel their energy in that direction.
The Acting Registrar administered the matriculation oath to students. Outlining the expectations of university life, Mr Jeffery Boakye emphasised how fortunate they were to be part of the ones offered admission. He also mentioned some challenges that the students were facing such as the use of the Sakai software, the lack of electronic gadgets to aid studies among others. He recommended that the University authorities should make electronic gadgets available for them at an affordable price to enable them have effective studies. He later signed the matricula on behalf of the other freshmen and women.
In attendance at the ceremony in Accra were Reverend Professor Cephas Omenyo, Provost, College of Education, tutors on the Distance Education programme, and other officials of the College of Education.
At the ceremony in Tamale, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (ASA), Professor Kwame Offei represented the Vice-Chancellor and the College Secretary of College of Education, Mrs. Emelia Agyei-Mensah, represented the Registrar. The Tamale ceremony also had in attendance the Coordinator of the Tamale Regional Learning Centre, Mr. Abudu Sakara, Hon. Alhassan Mohammed Sorugu-Doo, DCE of Sagnarigu District, Dr. Iddrisu Sulemana, Principal, Tamale Training College, Mr Kambortaa Richard, Director, Institute of Local Government Studies, Tamale and Hon. Mohammed Abdallah, Assembly member, Ward K, Tamale. Ms. Sandra Okyerebea Lartey, a Nursing student, delivered a speech on the expectations of University life on behalf of the matriculants.
At the ceremony in Kumasi, Prof. Michael A. Tagoe, Dean of the School of Continuing and Distance Education represented the Vice-Chancellor while Mrs. Cynthia Adu, Academic Affairs Officer of the College of Education represented the Registrar. In attendance at the ceremony were Dr. Ahmed Agyapong Deputy, Director IDL KNUST, Mr. E. T. Otieku Senior Ass Registrar KNUST, Mr. John Ankrah, Vice Principal .Kumasi Technical Institute in attendance.