Regional News of Thursday, 1 August 2013

Source: Joy Online

Mahama to meet UG heads over double stream admissions

President John Mahama is set to meet authorities of the University of Ghana to, among others, discuss how to absorb the two streams of students seeking university admission this year.

Chairman of the University of Ghana Council as well as former and current chancellors of the institution will be in attendance.

An unprecedented number of 409,000 Senior High School (SHS) graduates will be seeking admission to the universities and other tertiary institutions across the country this year.

Most parents fear their wards may not gain admission into the universities as a result of the double stream of students - SHS '3' and '4' candidates - who participated in the 2013 West Africa Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSSCE).

The development is causing apprehension among many parents and students.

Deputy Minister of Information and Media Relations, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed told journalists at the Daily Media Briefing at the Flagstaff House on Thursday that the President will put before the meeting, measures government has put in place to help the universities in the country enroll the high numbers.

According to Mr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, it is the desire of president Mahama that all qualified students will gain admission into the universities this academic year.

Meanwhile, President Mahama is expected to meet members of the Council of State to discuss issues the deputy Information Minister referred to as "critical national issues".

The deputy Minister also announced the departure of Vice President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthtur to Iran, for the inauguration and swearing in of the country's newly elected President, Hassan Rouhani.

Mr. Amissah-Arthtur will also hold bilateral talks with his Iranian counterpart.