Accra, Jan 26, GNA-The Fifth Ghana Higher Education Fair was launched in Accra on Wednesday, to provide a forum for interaction between stakeholders to seek solution to problems encountered in the acquisition of tertiary education.

The fair to be held on the theme: “Securing Our Future Tomorrow” would expose the tertiary institutions as well as the programmes and courses they offer to parents, students and other stakeholders.

The Ministry of Education in collaboration with I-Texon Ghana, a non-governmental organisation is organising the fair slated to be hosted in Tamale in the Northern Region and Takoradi in the Western Region.

Tamale would have its turn from February 6 to February 18 February, and Takoradi March 1 to March 3.

The fair was first held in the country in 2008 and had become an annual event which was initiated by Captain Mrs Catherine Haziel Chief Executive officer, I-Texon Ghana and other partners.

Mrs Haziel explained that the fair was initiated to respond to the challenges many students face in assessing higher education and the difficulty in choosing the right courses relevant to their chosen careers or interest.

“Obviously, it can be seen that there is a missing link of much needed information for decision making.”

She said the fair thus, would expose the various educational options available in Ghana, the requirements for admission into the accredited institutions and what expert training they have to offer in select fields of education.

Mrs Haziel noted that the fair would feature exhibitions by various tertiary institutions both private and public as well as lectures on their various courses and programmes for senior high school (SHS) leavers, first and second cycle public funded and private schools and the public.

Mr Donnan Tey, Acting Director, in charge of Tertiary Education, Ministry of Education said the Ministry embraced the fair because it presented a channel for addressing problems students face when applying to enter higher institutions.

He lauded I-Texon Ghana for identifying the gap of inadequate information about the educational institutions and helping to fine-tune the educational system.

He said every year, an estimated 150,000 qualified students from more than 577 SHS look for opportunities to enter tertiary institutions but only 35,000 students could be absorbed in the government sponsored institutions with the rest wallowing around while most private institutions with fine courses have vacancies due to lack of information about their operations.

He therefore expressed the hope that students from the more than 250 higher education institutions of various descriptions in the country would well attend the fair that would provide the right links between school leavers, their preferred courses and corresponding institutions.