The Provost of the College of Distance Education (CoDE), University of Cape Coast, Professor Isaac Galyuon has said the University has introduced new programmes through CoDE to benefit prison inmates in the country.
According to him, the initiative is as part of the CoDE’s outreach services in collaboration with Plan Volta Foundation and the Ghana Prison Service.
“As part of the outreach services, the College has collaborated with Plan Volta Foundation and the Prison Service to introduce the Prison Inmates Tertiary Education Programme this academic year leading to the creation of new study centre at the Nsawam Prisons, where 59 inmates have been enrolled with 19 reading Diploma in Commerce (Management Option), 8 reading Diploma in Commerce (Accounting Option), 9 reading Diploma in JHS Education (Science & Mathematics Option), and 23 reading Diploma in JHS Education (English & Social Studies Option),” he said.
Prof Galyuon indicated this during a matriculation ceremony held by the University of Cape Coast College of Distance Education for students within the Northern Zone of the College, at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale on 28th December, 2019.
The Provost, addressing the matriculants on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, stated that the university has admitted a total number of 13,089 nationwide into the College to pursue both undergraduate and post-graduate programmes.
Statistics
The Provost stated that the students are admitted to pursue both Education and Business-related programmes by distance mode for 2019/2020 academic year.
He added that out of the total number of 13,089 fresh students, 11,908 are to pursue undergraduate programmes while 1,181 are to pursue post-graduate programmes.
The number of undergraduates offering education programmes is 8,921 and those offering business programmes is 2,988. For post-graduate studies, 402 are offering education programmes while 779 are offering business programmes.
The 2019/2020 academic year’s enrollment figure also comprises 6,566 males (5,934 undergraduates and 632 post-graduates) and 6,523 females (5,974 undergraduates and 549 post-graduates).
Prof Galyuon further acknowledged that there is improvement in female enrollment in the College, “Comparing the admission statistics for this year to last year’s statistics, the percentage of female undergraduates has gone up significantly from 48.3% in 2018/2019 to 50.2% in 2019/2020. This shows a remarkable increase of 1.99% of female population over last year’s increase of 1.5%”.
Restructuring of the College
The College has undergone restructuring by introducing new programmes in Junior High Education, Primary Education, and Early Childhood Education.
The Provost further said CoDE has initiated processes to enroll programmes from the UCC Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Social Sciences including BSc Economics and Finance, MSc Microfinance, MSc Economics, MSc Social Science Data Management and Analysis, and MSc Economics of Technology and Development.
Prof Galyuon indicated that the restructuring is to ensure that the College operates in an efficient and effective manner to achieve quality distance education.
He however advice the matriculants to take their studies serious, “Your primary objective of coming to the university is to study hard towards the attainment of your degree or diploma. Even though you will not stay on campus during your period of study, do not forget that you are on an academic journey.
The university expects to offer quality services to your families, society and the country at large. I therefore advise that you make good use of the resources at your disposal, respect authorities and your colleagues, establish good study habits and read ahead of your tutorials”.