Ghanaian Vice-Chancellor opposes scrapping of TASUED

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana, Prof. Akwasi Asabere Ameyaw, has opposed the plan by the Ogun State Government to scrap the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun.

Ameyaw argued that having such a specialised university had become imperative because of its importance to the development of Nigeria and the African continent as a whole.

The  Ogun State Government  had early this year indicated plans to convert TASUED to an institute of education under the Faculty of Education of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.

But Ameyaw, who was the guest lecturer at the third annual distinguished lecture organised by the TASUED National Alumni Association, told newsmen on Friday at the university campus that such an attempt should be resisted by all stakeholders genuinely interested in moving Nigeria’s education sector forward.

He argued that scrapping or merging such a specialised institution would have negative impact on quality teacher education and the professional development of teachers in the country.

The VC, who also doubles as the Chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors in Ghana, lauded the concept of specialised universities, adding that it would be unthinkable that anyone would consider a conversion of such a functional university of education to an institute under another university.

 

His words: “Have you found out the background of those who are propagating that one? They don’t understand what they are saying. They refuse to accept the concept but until you get there, you wouldn’t know what a university of education stands for. In their ignorance they‘ll always talk that way.

“Imagine, putting a whole university of education under an institute in a university, not even as an institute in a university. It is a sin. It just amounts to ridicule. If you were a teacher, you would have known that person is living in the past. So, they said that because they didn’t know what they were saying and I’m not too sure whether we should allow them to have their way. We should resist it, and fiercely too.”

Also commenting on the declining standard of education in many African countries, Ameyaw said it was wrong for the organisations involved in ranking universities across the world to base their assessment soley on the information contained on the websites of such institutions.