Navrongo (U/E), Oct. 24, GNA- The University for Development Studies (UDS) has admitted 1,240 students to pursue various first degree programmes this year.

This represents about 30 percent of the 3,526 qualified applicants for admission.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor John B.K. Kaburise, announced this on Friday at the eleventh matriculation ceremony of the University held at the Navrongo campus.

He said the number of students admitted this year might seem low, but it represents 21 percent increase over last year's, pointing out that the University lacks enough physical facilities to admit more qualified students.

Professor Kaburise said as part of efforts to bridge the gap between male and female enrolment ratio, 362 girls have been admitted this year representing 30 percent of the total admissions. It is the University's policy to achieve 80 percent girl enrolment within the next few years, he said.

The Vice-Chancellor announced that the University will soon introduced two postgraduate masters degree programmes in Development Studies and Cross-Cultural Studies.

New first-degree programmes in Earth Sciences and Computer will also be added to those already being run by the faculty of Applied Sciences at Navrongo.

Professor Kaburise said inadequate lecture rooms, lack of student accommodations, good water supply and library facilities are some of the major constraints hindering smooth academic activities.

"Central government's subvention is not enough to solve our problems since there are other competing national priorities that deserve attention", he noted and called on other beneficiaries of tertiary education, including parents, to contribute towards funding education.

The Vice-Chancellor advised fresh students not to be deterred by the inadequate physical facilities but to judge the University through the quality and relevance of its programmes.

He exhorted them to work hard to advance the mission and vision of the University, which is to develop programmes to meet the needs and aspirations of the people of Northern Ghana, especially those in poor communities.