Congratulations On Your Degree; GTEC Has A Small Question

The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has released a list of 100 institutions that are not currently recognized due to quality assurance concerns. This list has made its way across the globe, affecting institutions in countries like Mexico, India, America, Switzerland, Nigeria, Zambia, and Ghana. GTEC is cautious in its language, not declaring that every institution is fake or that all qualifications are worthless.

However, they advise the public to exercise due diligence when considering certificates issued by these institutions.

This situation has consequences beyond being a joke, as many of the 11 Ghana-based or partly Ghana-based institutions on the list may be involved in real money transactions, years of study, and the issuance of certificates that may not be properly verified. While it is essential for applicants and their parents to conduct due diligence before paying fees, the authorities also bear some responsibility.

With institutions openly operating, advertising programs, recruiting students, collecting fees, and holding graduation ceremonies, the burden of discovering potential issues should not solely fall on young applicants and their families.

The solution to this problem lies in making the recognition status easily accessible, providing loud and continuous warnings, ensuring visible enforcement, and preventing questionable institutions from receiving prolonged recognition. The immediate lesson is clear: before making significant commitments like paying fees, attending admission ceremonies, or adding titles to personal contact lists, individuals should check GTEC twice to ensure the institution's recognition status is up-to-date.

In today's Republic, acquiring knowledge is not enough; individuals must also confirm that the institution that certified their knowledge is recognized by the authorities responsible for overseeing education.