The Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies (UPSA), Prof. Charles Barnor has pleaded with government to consider a possible extension of the compulsory retirement age from sixty (60) to seventy (70) years, MyNewsGh.com reports.

He made this appeal during a recent University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) consultative meeting at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUSTunder the theme: “Towards Receiving the First Batch of Free SHS Students in the Public Universities; the Role of the University and the University Teacher” covered by MyNewsGh.com.

Prof. Charles Barnor in his presentation to the UTAG congregation on how the Universities can support and offer significant admissions to the first bath of the Free Senior High School (FSHS) beneficiaries urged the government to ensure technology learning in our Universities and contribute in the physical expansion of existing infrastructure in the varsities to aid in capacity building and complement the schools efforts.

He in a sharp appeal called on the government to consider increasing the retirement age of public servants especially University lecturers from 60 years to 70 years. This he said will help ensure the continuous service of more experienced aged lecturers to facilitate an improved and effective teaching and learning environment especially in the wake of the various Universities having difficulties in employing new lecturers in order not to create lecturer-students deficit.

The workshop discussed amongst many things measures the various public universities have put in place to absorb the first batch of the FSHS program and other strategies to ease and facilitate teaching and learning in the academic year.

Prof. Kwasi Obiri Danso, the KNUST Vice-Chancellor was the occasion’s Chairman with Prof. Charles Barnor, Pro-Vice Chancellor of University of Professional Studies (UPSA), Prof. Nana Afia Amponsaa Opoku-Asare, Associate Professor to the Faculty of Education and Isaac Boakye Nyamekye, a former student leader being the major speakers of the event.

Speaking to the media after the event, Prof. Charles Marfo, the national President of UTAG said they will continue to engage government to ensure the smooth running of the policy as the seminar is the first of many they will be holding from time to time.

The first batch of government’s Free SHS beneficiaries are expected to enroll into the various Universities in September 2020 after completion of their required WASCE exams.

Policy analysts have projected an upward surge in the number of Students who will seek enrollment in the Public Universities calling on government to make advanced provisions in order not to frustrate a large number of the Students from having University education.