Dodowa, Aug. 30, GNA - Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, Minister of Education, on Saturday called for joint research by the public and private universities to step up academic work. He said private universities had the opportunity to globally explore avenues for collaboration to set up endowment funds and scholarships for students.

Mr Tettey-Enyo made the call in a speech read on his behalf at the 43rd Annual Graduation and the 3rd Congregation of the Ghana Christian University College (GCUC) at Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region. It was on the theme: "The Impact of Tertiary Education in the Development of Ghanaian Economy."

The Minister said government would continue to provide the enabling environment for the private universities to play complementary roles in the provision of tertiary education. He said "The support provided to students in the private institution through the Ghana Education Trust Fund and access to the Student's Loan Trust Fund in private tertiary educational institutions were indications of government support to private institution". Mr. Tettey-Enyo said the Ministry would continue to dialogue with private tertiary institutions on how to improve on their academic pursuit.

He said both the private and public tertiary institutions faced challenges such as inadequate funding, limited academic and infrastructural facilities to match the growing number of students. Mr. Tettey-Enyo said private universities had stood the test of time and needed to be commended adding: "He who much is given much is received." He said knowledge, which was not applied or misapplied to its maximum was as dangerous as illiteracy. The Minister advised the graduates to utilise all the opportunities available to them for their self development. He said the graduates must contribute towards the development of the society.

Dr. Joyce Aryee, Chairperson of the University Council said for the past three years GCUC was under the mentorship of University of Wales for Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Theology and Development Management. She said during the next academic year, the first batch of students with BA Hons with concentration on Micro Finance, Community Agriculture, Public Health and Community Leadership would graduate. Dr. Manuel Adjei President of the University said private universities were assuming greater importance in society than in the past as the power of new ideas increasingly drove economic social and political development.

He said GCUC was committed to leadership development, transformation of persons and communities as contribution to the national development agenda.

"We strongly believe that our nation is unable to see a better Ghana unless we uphold the principle of spiritual transformation of persons and social transformation of systems that suppress and hinder development," he said. Dr. Adjei said the teaching methods must expose students to important knowledge, stimulate quality experience and compel critical interaction between knowledge and experience. He said the university since 1968 had turned out 915 graduates out which 415 were supervising community activities in the urban areas while 81 of them were serving as missionaries in various African countries. GCUC was established in 1966 as a seminary with the help of American Missionaries and Ghanaian Christians.