By Edward Acquah, GNA
Accra, Nov. 11, GNA- Rt Rev Dr Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye, Chancellor of the Presbyterian University, Ghana (PUG), has urged universities to identify and support students facing academic difficulties early to avoid poor performance from leading to their withdrawal.
He said institutions must strengthen academic advising, mentoring, tutorials and remedial interventions to help struggling students improve before their academic situations become irreversible.
Rt. Rev. Dr Opare Kwakye made the call at the University’s 20th Congregation Ceremony at Kwahu-Abetifi where he outlined lessons for PUG from ongoing debates about academic progression and the withdrawal of students who fail to meet minimum academic requirements.
Citing the University of Ghana’s directive requiring students with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) below 1.00 to withdraw.
Although universities must maintain academic standards, they must also consider the circumstances affecting students’ performance and provide appropriate support.
“Standards and compassion must go together. We must protect the credibility of our degrees without losing sight of our Christian responsibility to demonstrate compassion and give deserving students a fair opportunity to succeed,” he said.
He therefore urged the Presbyterian University Council, Senate and Management to review the institution’s academic progression policies and student support arrangements.
The Chancellor who is also the moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, observed that students experiencing academic challenges could also be affected by financial, family, health and emotional difficulties, making it necessary for the University’s counselling services, Chaplaincy and other support systems to be accessible and adequately resourced.
He further called for clear communication of academic regulations and policies on probation, deferment and withdrawal, as well as opportunities for students who could not continue their programmes to return or pursue alternative pathways.
On the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, Rt. Rev. Dr Opare Kwakye called for a clear institutional policy to guide its responsible use by lecturers and students.
He said the University must also design assessments that tested students’ understanding, reasoning and practical application of knowledge rather than their ability to reproduce information
Professor John Ofosu Anim, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said the University was graduating 1,071 students this year, representing a 30 per cent increase over the 814 graduates recorded in the previous year.
The graduating students included 710 women out of the total number, 181 students obtained First Class honours, 502 Second Class Upper, 363 Second Class Lower, 24 Third Class and one Pass.
The School of Nursing and Midwifery produced the highest number of graduates, with 617, followed by the Faculty of Medical Sciences with 174.
The Faculty of Law presented 69 graduates, while the Faculty of Science and Technology had 41, whiles the Faculty of Development Studies and Faculty of Education presented 47 and eight graduates respectively.
Professor Ofosu Anim said the increase in graduate numbers demonstrated the University’s commitment to developing the human capacity needed to build Ghana.
He urged the graduates to uphold integrity, discipline, commitment, excellence and faith in God, stressing that the country needed professionals who would contribute to national development and resist corruption and environmental destruction.
The Presbyterian University, Ghana, was established by the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in 2003 and began academic activities at the Kwahu Campus at Abetifi with programmes in Information and Communication Technology and Business Administration.
It received a Presidential Charter in August 2022, granting it autonomy to operate as a fully-fledged university and award its own degrees.
GNA
Edited by Bertha Badu-Agyei /Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter: Edward Acquah