The Savannah Regional Minister, Salisu Be-Awuribe, has voiced his concerns over the handling of the Savannah College of Education’s absorption into the public system.
He has accused both the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) and the previous administration of prematurely announcing the college’s transition, suggesting that the rush to update the GTEC website was a politically motivated move aimed at scoring points rather than a well-thought-out decision.
In an interview with JoyNews, the Minister responded to the growing concerns from trainee students regarding the college’s uncertain status.
Criticizing GTEC and the previous administration’s handling of the matter, Be-Awuribe emphasized that the process had been rushed and poorly communicated.
“The situation was mishandled, and we are working diligently to correct that,” he explained. “Our priority is to ensure that Savannah College of Education is absorbed into the public system properly and without any further confusion.”
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The Regional Minister assured the students and the general public that the government was fully committed to expediting the absorption process.
He stressed that the college would be officially recognized as a public institution before the current batch of trainee students graduates.
“We are making sure that we get the Savannah College of Education absorbed as quickly as possible, and before they graduate, they will be graduating in a public institution,” Be-Awuribe stated.
Additionally, the Minister called for calm, urging students to refrain from taking drastic actions or protests.
He reassured the college community that there were no plans to shut down the institution and that efforts were underway to resolve the issue swiftly.
“They should lay down their arms,” Be-Awuribe pleaded, emphasizing that there was no reason for alarm. “The process is in motion, and I can confidently assure the school’s neighborhood that we are committed to seeing this through.”
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The comments come amid growing tensions over the status of the Savannah College of Education, which has become a point of contention between local authorities, students, and GTEC.
Despite the challenges, Be-Awuribe remains optimistic that the necessary steps will be taken to resolve the matter and ensure that the college is fully integrated into the public education system.
In closing, the Minister reassured all stakeholders that progress was being made and that the government would not rest until the college’s transition was completed seamlessly.
“We are working earnestly on this, and the process will undoubtedly move forward,” he affirmed.