Plans advanced for University of Science and Technology in Damongo – Haruna Iddrisu

Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education has disclosed that plans are advanced for the establishment of a University of Science and Technology in Damongo in the Savannah Region,

Mr Iddrisu made this known at Bolgatanga during a citizen engagement, as part of President John Dramani Mahama's Resetting Ghana Agenda tour of the Upper East Region.

“We have just concluded work on the design and build of the proposed university, to which the President has committed US$30 million of grant money given to him for the start of the project,” and was mobilising additional resources to commence the project he said.

Mr Iddrisu said the establishment of the university formed part of President Mahama's commitment to expanding access to tertiary education and increasing the number of public universities in the country.

He said the government was considering the establishment of between two and four additional public universities, particularly in areas including Oti, Ahafo, Western North and Damongo.

He said the government's broader education agenda was focused on expanding access at the basic, secondary and tertiary levels, while realigning expenditure towards improving foundational learning and educational outcomes.

At the tertiary level, the Minister said the government was also positioning the University for Technology and Applied Sciences in Navrongo to expand its mandate to offer medical education, subject to accreditation and the mobilisation of additional resources.

He said the move was part of efforts to expand access to medical education and address the challenges associated with limited opportunities for prospective medical students.

Mr Iddrisu further disclosed that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) had so far awarded 2,038 contracts across the country covering basic, secondary and tertiary education infrastructure.

He said the government was also investing heavily in secondary education, including committing between US$2.8 billion and US$3 billion under an Education Transformation for Access, Relevance, and Results for Jobs (STAR-J) project, to expand access to secondary education.

As part of the project, 30 E-Blocks would be completed this year while other schools would benefit from other infrastructure to upgrade into boarding status.

He stated that 12 schools in the Upper East Region would benefit from the programme.

The Minister reiterated the government's commitment to sustaining the Free Senior High School policy, saying the focus was now on expanding infrastructure, improving feeding and strengthening quality assurance.

Mr Iddrisu assured residents that education remained a priority for the government, particularly in the Upper East Region, and urged Ghanaians to support President Mahama's education agenda.

GNA