Government is looking into the possibility of extending the retiring age of teachers and lecturers from the current 60 to 65 years. If found feasible, this would allow more experienced teaching staff to remain in the profession a little longer, and thus help fill some vacancies.

Yaw Osafo-Maafo, minister for education and sports, made this known at the third congregation of the Central University College (CUC) in Accra on Saturday. ?Studies have revealed that most lecturers who retire at 60 are in good health condition and have the capacity to serve a little longer,? he explained. The minister also announced that the Government is instituting a programme to provide research grants and scholarships for the teaching staff in private tertiary institutions, as part of measures to assist in improving the teaching capacity in private educational institutions.

In addition, he noted that efforts were being made by the Government to improve the conditions of service for lecturers in the country?s universities

Mr Osafo-Maafo commended the country?s nine private universities for complementing the efforts of Government in providing higher education for the youth, saying their contribution is vital since the Government could not do it alone. With the support of the private universities, the total students involvement in tertiary institutions rose from about 10,000 in 1993 to more than 46,000 in 2004.