Nigerian parents panic as Ghana bans mushroom schools

YINKA LAWAL
Anxiety has gripped Nigerian parents over the decision of Ghana’s National Accreditation Board (NAB) to ban 53 tertiary institutions in the country from advertising and admitting students into various courses of study.

The body had earlier revoked and banned some institutions from running a particular course after finding out that they do not meet up with the standard required.

Most Nigerian parents who chose the Ghanaian institutions over their Nigerian institutions of learning expressed concerns and apprehension due to the amount of money spent in securing admission for their wards.

A Nigerian, who has one of her children in one of the affected institutions, Mrs Rotimi Arogundada, said that the board should reverse its decision, saying parents and their wards are been made to suffer for others’ inadequacies.

“Why should we be made to suffer for others’ mistake? After paying millions and spending irrecoverable time, this injustice is been meted out to us.

“I am begging the board to initiate the process where the affected institutions would be given more time to put necessary infrastructure in place and then go back to re-evaluate and accredit them, instead of just clamping down on them at our own expense”, she begged.

Also speaking on the development, Mrs Elusakin Abimbola, whose child recently gained admission into one of the institutions in Ghana, said that the situation in the country, most especially the standard of education prompted her to send her ward to Ghana.

“The value and standard of education given to students here is nothing to write home about. I hope the body looks into the issue on time because these mushroom schools in Ghana are still better than some quality schools in Nigeria”.

Another parent, Mrs Peju Tanimola, said that she always makes enquiries about the school she has the intention of enrolling her child and that the school, Greenwich University College, Tema, met the standard she wanted until now.

She said it was good she had not made any payment before the hammer fell on the school.

For years, numbers of Nigerian parents sending their children to tertiary institutions outside the shore of the country have increased, and became more alarming recently when they were refused admissions in foreign institutions like in the United Kingdom and United States of America.

Trouble started 17 months ago when a group of foreign students, mostly Nigerians, sought damages in excess of N41 million against the privately owned Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) and NAB.

However, NAB said neither the board accredited the institutions nor their programmes, therefore, the institutions do not have the authorization to award academic or professional certificates.

The body further advised parents and prospective students to make findings from NAB before enrolling in any tertiary institutions.

According to NAB, the banned institutions of learning are Academy of Professional Studies in Takoradi; Africa International College, Accra; Bechem Polytechnic; Ghanatta College of Art and Design, Accra; Global School of Aviation, Tema, Kumasi; ACS Professional College, Accra; Hac-Holland Institute, Accra; Harvard School of International Marketing and Language Skills, Accra; West Africa Computer Science Institute, Adabraka-Accra; Quince Lincoln University Centre of Distance Learning Education, Accra; Institute of Export and Shipping Management, Takoradi, Kumasi, Accra; International Travel Tourism Institute, Achimota, Accra.

Others are ICPS, Tesano, Accra; Jabez College, Takoradi; Management Accountancy Technology Institute, Dansoman, Accra; Oracle University, Kumasi. School of Management and Professional Studies, Kumasi Staff College Consult, Accra; International English Language Teaching and Learning University, Labone SDA School, Accra; West Africa Computer Science Institute, Adabraka-Accra; International Christian College of Excellence, East Legon, Accra; Intentional Institute of Journalism, Tamale; King Amin Islamic Institute, Agona Swedru, Teachers and Douaat Training Institute, Madina, Accra; Uthmang Islamic School, Kumasi; Abdaullah Bin Mas’ud Centre for Memorisation of the Holy Quran, Accra; S.M.P.S., South Suntreso, Kumasi; Bechem Business College, Bechem, BA; Delta University College, Keta; University of Jesus of Nazareth Nursing, Training Centre, Mankesim; Institute of Advance Communication and Computer Education, North Kaneshie; Genesis Professional Institute, Patasi, Kumasi; Dononee Training Health Institute, Lapaz, Accra; GIET College Santa Maria, Accra; Nothing Hill College, Santa Maria, Accra; Notting Hill College, Avenor Junction, Accra.

Others are Greenwich University College, Tema; Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU), Accra; Ahmadiyya Theoretical University College, Mankesim; Amity Institute of Higher Education, Dansoman, Accra; All Stars Media College, Dansoman; Imperial University College of Science and Technology, North Legon; Ghana School of Survey and Mapping, Accra; Unicorn University College, Kumasi Gewah Alternative University College, Kumasi; Gewah Alternative University College, McCarthy Hill, Accra; Mumford University of Science and Technology, Accra; Vine University, New Achimota, Accra; Vine University and others.

Meanwhile, the president of the All-Nigeria Community (ANC) in Ghana, Moses Owharo, has lauded the development, saying that it offered an opportunity for the ANC-Ghana to re-examine the fate of Nigerian students in the country.

He added that it is an avenue to look at the institutions properly.

“I think in one way it is an opportunity for us to look at the institutions once again with regards to the services or options they have, especially when Nigerian students are coming here to look for courses to do.

“It strengthens our hand to look at the institutions again and make recommendations, on behalf of Nigerian students here, on areas that we have challenges. Already we are in communication with the Ghanaian Ministry of Education as well as association of Ghanaian universities. Also, we will soon embark on visits to the institutions to look at the facilities that they have.

“As it is, we have been to Websters University (a private university in Accra). We intend doing that for other schools. So this new move from the National Accreditation Board gives us an ample opportunity to make further input.”