Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the Minister of Education, has said the construction of facilities at the new site of the Ghana Institute of Journalism at North Dzorwulu is at an advanced stage.
The project, which is being supported by the GETFund, she said, had a four -Storey Unit lecture hall, 350-Seater Auditorium, an Administration Block and other auxiliary structures. It is about 65 per cent complete.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, who said this at her Ministry’s turn of the Meet-the-Press Series in Accra, gave the assurance that her Ministry would assist to enhance access and the position of the institution to train more world class journalists and media practitioners.
She announced that the Government had also taken steps to transform the National Film and Television Training Institute (NAFTI) into a College of Media and Creative Arts under the Ministry of Education.
She said Cabinet had approved a Memorandum in this regard and processes were ongoing in liaison with the National Council for Tertiary Education to ensure the transformation of NAFTI.
The Minister said the Bill was currently with the Attorney General’s Department for onward transmission to Parliament for consideration and passage into law.
“In this regard, a provision has been made in the 2017 budget for the Institute,” she added.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said in line with the Government’s vision of providing a public university in every region, a Presidential Taskforce was constituted to develop a roadmap for the establishment of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development in the Eastern Region.
“Land has been secured in Somanya and Donkorkrom for the siting of the university…. the government is vigorously pursuing funding options to commence the construction of key facilities,” she added.
On the Student Loan Scheme, she said the Trust had approved an increment in the loan offered to students from between a GHC 650 – GHC 1600 over two semesters package to GHC 1000 – GHC 2000 payable over two semesters.
She said the new levels of Student Loan effect in the 2016/2017 Academic year.
The Minister announced the introduction of a Student Loan Plus (SL-Plus) which has been designed to cater for students who gain admission to tertiary institutions but are financially handicapped in raising the initial time-bound registration fees.
“The SL-Plus is an extension of the qualification period for a regular student loan to include the Tertiary Admission Phase,” she added.
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Source: GNA