Sunyani: Mr James Clarke Hayford, the Registrar in-charge of the Dean of Students Office at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), has commended the government for the implementation of the ‘No Fees, No Stress’ policy in tertiary institutions. President John Dramani Mahama launched the policy to remove financial barriers that prevent qualified students from enrolling in public universities, technical universities, nursing training colleges, and colleges of education.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Hayford, who is also the Institutional Advancement and Alumni Relations Officer of the University, called on the government to consider expanding the policy to benefit second-year students as well. In an interview at the university’s main campus at Fiapre, near Sunyani, he noted that the implementation of the policy was moving in the right direction and would help more students access tertiary education. He recommended that the government extend the policy to benefit both first and second-year students.
Mr Hayford remarked that the strict enforcement of cut-off points to tertiary institutions poses a significant barrier to achieving all-inclusive and quality education. He suggested reforms to tackle these barriers in the nation’s tertiary education system. He encouraged first-year students to justify the government’s gesture by working hard to excel in their academic careers. Despite UENR’s proximity, student enrollment from the Bono Region has declined.
Mr Hayford emphasized that the majority of UENR students hail from the Western, Western North, Central, Ashanti, and Northern parts of the country. He urged families to prioritize and invest in the education of their children, highlighting that the university meets global standards and excellence in innovative studies.