A virtual matriculation ceremony has been organized for newly admitted students offering various Distance Education (DE) programmes under the School of Continuing and Distance Education, College of Education (CoE) for the 2020/2021 Academic Year.
Delivering an address at the ceremony on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, the Acting Provost of the College of Education, Prof. Michael Tagoe, informed the matriculating students that the ceremony marks the beginning of the university experience for fresh students on the Distance Education programme, and also congratulated them on their accomplishments which had enabled them to be enrolled as students in the University of Ghana.
Prof. Michael Tagoe - Acting Provost
Prof. Tagoe reminded the students that matriculation is a statutory gathering to formally induct freshmen and women into the academic community, and also offers the opportunity for newly admitted students to pledge their loyalty to the authority of the University through the administration of the Matriculation Oath.
“During the next few years, you will be a part of the most respected academic community in Ghana; a community which provides an environment for you to have vast opportunities to expand your understanding of society and the world”, the Provost added.
The Acting Provost noted that following the graduation of the first batch of Senior High School leavers under the Free SHS programme, the University of Ghana has increased its admissions intake in the 2020/2021 academic year with a total of 15,020 undergraduate students enrolling in the University, of which figure 49.5 % are females and 50.5% males.
In terms of financial aid, he said the University awarded a total of GHS 2,796519.00 to 981 students during the 2019/2020 academic year.
On her part, the College Secretary, Mrs. Emelia Agyei-Mensah, indicated that Matriculation ceremonies are in line with Article 31 of the University of Ghana Act, 2010, Act 806 which states that “any student admitted to the University shall take the Matriculation Oath and sign the Matriculation register”.
The College Secretary urged the students to engage positively and actively in University activities when the current restrictions are lifted.
Mrs. Emelia Agyei-Mensah- College Secretary
She took the opportunity to express gratitude to faculty and staff for their contributions towards admitting students, working on registration, orientation and matriculation, as well as putting the systems in place for the delivery methods that are being used for the academic year.
Three Distance Education students, Farida Hawa Aminu, Valentina Numatekpor and Simon Tetteh Amanor took the oath on air; while all other fresh students took the oath privately.
Farida, Simon and Valentina taking the Matriculation oath
Simon Tetteh Amanor, who is studying towards a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology through the Accra Learning Centre, on behalf of his colleagues, shared his expectations as a student and signed the matricula on behalf of the class.
Simon Tetteh Amanor
While commending management for the unprecedented deployment of IT facilities to enhance teaching and learning, he also drew attention to various challenges students faced in using these technologies, and called for swift action by the University for these challenges to be addressed.
Simon expressed gratitude to faculty and staff of the Department of Distance Education, as well as the College Academic Affairs Office, for the timely response to email messages from students and the leadership of the DE Students Association, for the unflinching support extended to freshers to ensure they comfortably settle into their studies.
He encouraged his colleagues to be mindful of their attitude towards interpersonal relationships, make good use of the online facilities available, and engage actively with course mates, lecturers and tutors.
Simon signing the Matricula