The 2020 batch of the Distance Education students of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), have called on management of the university to fast-track the required processes to pave the way for their graduation.
According to them, since completing school in July 2020, there were no correspondence and indications to them as to when they would graduate to enable them to get their respective certificates.
They said: “Although our colleague regular students who completed same year have graduated and subsequently received their certificates, all distance students from all the study centres were yet to graduate to receive their certificates as well.”
Interview
In an interview with the Daily Graphic last Tuesday, the Course Representative, Human Resource Management at the Accra Wesley Girls Centre, Madam Lydia Ohenewaa Nkrumah, said the students urgently needed the certificates to upgrade themselves, seek for promotion or look for job opportunities.
She stated that many of the students were particularly due for promotion and that the university was unduly delaying their promotion due to its inability to organize a graduation ceremony for them.
She explained further that their fate hung in the balance since till date, management of the university had not communicated to them what was delaying their graduation, causing agitation among the students.
Certificates
She explained further that all attempts to get the authorities of the university to address their concerns had proved futile, saying “if the graduation would be a huge cost to the university, they should just print the certificate and call us to pick them up”.
“All the affected students are deeply worried and disturbed about the situation and that management must, as a matter of urgency, take immediate steps to address our concerns,” Madam Nkrumah noted.
Student leadership
The immediate past President of the Distance Education Students Association (DESA), Mr Abdul Salam Alhassan, in an interview, informed the affected students that he had engaged management on the matter and that they should remain calm and wait for the exact date for the graduation.
He assured the agitated students that management was set to graduate the affected students in May 2021, which was likely to be held virtually, noting that the students would employ all legal means to ensure that their concerns were addressed.
Management responds
However, a statement signed and released last Tuesday by the Registrar of the university, Mr Paul Osei-Barima, informed students, stakeholders and the general public that the university’s second session of the 25th congregation scheduled to take place in April had been rescheduled to May, 2021.
It indicated that the mode, venue and time of the congregation would soon be communicated, adding “we regret any inconvenience caused”.
Source: www.graphic.com.gh