Special needs students at UG in limbo as Scholarship Secretariat delays in releasing funds for fees

The dreams and aspirations of some students with special needs at the University of Ghana may hit a snag if the government fails to pay their tuition fees before Friday, November 8, 2024.

This is a result of the Scholarship Secretariat’s delay in releasing their funds for over a year now, leaving many to grapple with the hard reality of fending for themselves.

“My mom is the one who takes care of me and she borrows from people. As I speak my mother owes a lot of people because of this school fees matter. I cannot even sleep because anytime I try to sleep, I remember I owe the school and I have to register for my course before Friday, 8 November 2024. My colleagues are attending lectures, but I cannot go because I have not registered.” Richmond Yador, an affected visually impaired law student, lamented.

Since childhood, Richmond and his colleagues have vowed not to beg for alms on the streets but rather climb the academic ladder. This passion and determination have been fueling Richmond’s vision of a renowned lawyer someday.

Richmond, who unfortunately lost his sight at a tender age, has defied all odds and is now a level 300 student at the University of Ghana, reading law.

“I have been in the house for some time now. I completed SHS around 2019, but because of financial matters, I couldn’t come to school. I just came to school last year somewhere in January. So, deferring my course will be a sad thing for me.” Richmond fears.

The stories of Godway and Jeffery, also visually impaired are not different from Richmond.

“When I was coming to the University of Ghana, I was told by my colleagues that the government pays the school fees for persons with disability at the various tertiary institutions, so I was happy. But when I came, I was told looking at things, the fees will not be dispensed. So, I had to look for money to cater for myself.” Godsway Akpa is another visually impaired.

“If the government has promised to pay our fees and they are not paying, all the people who should have paid our fees know that the government is supposed to pay. If you go to them for school fees, they tell me that the government has paid your school fees, so they don’t have anything for us.” Jeff Ayewum indicates.

President of the University of Ghana chapter of students with special needs say they are yet to get a positive response from the Scholarship Secretariat.

“We have an office on campus and we have reached out to them, and they have also reached out to the Scholarship Secretariat. The Secretariat told us that they don’t have any money, so if we are planning to demonstrate, then we should go to the Ministry of Finance because they are supposed to release the funds to them before they can pay our fees.” Foster Kudese mentioned.

The Vice President and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has, however, promised to provide free tertiary education to all persons with disability who make it to University in Ghana.

“I am very clear on the way forward. I believe that for persons with disabilities, we are going to support them a bit more. We are giving scholarships to every person, but I am going to dedicate some of the monies to our Scholarship Secretariat and the GETFund to provide free tertiary education, both tuition and accommodation, to every person with a disability who makes it into the university so they can all benefit,” he stated.

In a WhatsApp conversation with the Registrar of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang assured them of government plans to dispense the fees.

“The outstanding fee has been processed; payment will be made next month. The institutions are aware of the special arrangement, and they always accommodate them.” Mr. Agyemang assured.

With a few days to the end of the course registration, what will be the fate of these students with special needs? Will they be able to register for their courses before the deadline and join their colleagues in the lecture hall? Or what will happen to them?

By Frederick Kunzote-Ani

The post Special needs students at UG in limbo as Scholarship Secretariat delays in releasing funds for fees first appeared on 3News.

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