Private Universities: Has The Bubble Bust

Let us go back to memory lane when the first private university was born (Valley View University) where students where skeptical about the possible prospects of such a venture. Then came the 2000 when the numbers of these institutions like lotto kiosks mushroomed in all corners thanks to the National Accreditation Board and the desire of matured students who sought to enhance their qualification.

As if the salvation door had opened, floods of entrepreneurs jumped in not counting the cost. Perhaps the Ministry of Education and the National Accreditation Board (NAAB) in their desire to open more channels to higher learning found it necessary to facilitate that opportunity.

Clearly Ghana can now boast of a number of private universities. A plus though but with its attendant challenges. One can immediately count the influx of Nigerian students and other foreign nationals now feeding the vast majority of private universities and sustaining the livelihood of homes in many parts of the Country.

Perhaps mention could be made to the fact apart from the going concern that these schools enjoy the dollar denominated fees if researched on could explain a possible contribution to the GDP and possibly the national currency's stability (no mater how minute when argued).

But waking up to the news that Meridian University College is on the verge of collapse beats my imagination. As one would have wondered the National Accreditation board obviously would have put in the necessary measures to prevent such a calamity.

The question that beats my imagination is whether the National Accreditation Board and the mentoring institutions have actually counted the colossal damage that such a collapse would do to the image of Ghanaian Universities in other countries especially the sister countries.

A part from the loss of potential students in the near future, the damage that past students would have to battle in the immediate future cannot be overemphasized. Failure to have an Alma matter where they can seek academic reference should be a bother. One can easily cite future employment concerns. Interestingly as greed may be the name of the game other sister private universities have started scrambling for the supposed deserted students and not considering the long term effect that this collapse would have on their very existence.

What is the National Council of Tertiary Institutions saying in all these? Is the ministry of education considering the negative effects if these collapse should be allowed. Perhaps all attacks should go to the Private Universities association.

Having noted the above, the reasons cited have been played on air as financial. The SRC President mentioned the founder as looking for investors to enable him pay up the affiliation dues which have piled up in dollars and other necessary fees imposed by the affiliate institution. One would imagine that NABB accreditation fees with respect to inspection of facilities, accreditation etc would certainly deter entrepreneurs and have existing ones to consider a rethink of having braved such a venture. The critical question is to consider the purpose of these herculean fees. Could it be that it is meant to prevent others from entering?

If so then one would need to consider if they do not have the potential of collapsing existing ones with its attendant repercussions on the Ghanaian educational image both locally and internationally. More so the obvious would be that only those who can bankroll serious cash can attempt such a venture. The questions then arises that perhaps those with less education with the power of money can easily set up and engage professionals to manage. But wait a minute governance issues would certainly raise its ugly heads as 'cash men ' in Ghana and the world over cannot and would not allow so called academic professionals to decide for them.

This obviously have led to lots of governance issues among these private universities .The solution then may lie in allowing a minimum of say some qualification and not allowing 100% share ownership but rather partnership. In that wise finances could be enhanced and decision taking could be seen as bearing a bit of professional touch rather than family concerns and emotions. Also the mergers of existing one could be considered, this will clearly allow continuous existence of records and easy reference when it becomes necessary.

Instead of the NAAB and the mentoring institutions cashing on these schools they need to make more conscious efforts at mentoring, regulating and performing proper audit when it becomes necessary. They clearly need to think along a possible bail out procedures for such institutions and never allow them to collapse with the tsunami.

It has been reported in the press that the students would be transferred to West End University College another private University much younger than Meridian University. The question that beats my mind is whether the course content and programme content are the same. Hopefully they should be other than that we could find ourselves in a situation where course content does not match programme under which accreditation had been offered. Could there be some legal consequences with respect to that. Would it be a makeshift degree?

Would there be some special accreditation license to go with that. Hope students would not have to deal with any legal suite in the near future when their certificates are brought to public ridicule. One would remember the case of the politician big wig when his license to practice as a lawyer was questioned. Despite the clearance some doubters seemed to have enjoyed the public embarrassment that ensued.

Owing to the above should we not consider other bail out options rather than transferring of students? For instance an assistance on how best to increase students' numbers,temporal deferment of payment of affiliation dues and others. Perhaps one would need to look across to the United Kingdom where universities instead of suffering in isolation have partnered each other. Mention could be made of London Metropolitan University and the University of North Scotland which comprise of other universities. Such adopted solution would certainly give affected past students an alma mater to refer to and at the same time a safe place where their records would be kept.

I want to believe that a quick fix can never be the best solution in situations like a collapse to a University. Instead of engaging in technical arguments the bigger picture of transferring the students should be looked at. Transferring students immediately means a permanent shut down to the University. Are we saying that the school would come alive in future?

Who would like to send his/her ward to a school that shut down once upon a time and now resurrecting like Academic Christ the Messiah? Are we thinking about the suffering that the transcripts from such a school will contend with where masters programme outside the shores of the country are sought. Let us review the intended solutions and see how best the university could be saved. Transfer of continuing students can never be the immediate solution. The Ministry of Education must immediately intervene.

Godson AgbekoSenanu
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