There are fifteen national public universities in Ghana, ten of which are technical universities and more than sixty-one private university colleges in Ghana, only one of which is a private university: Valley View University. If you are contemplating the choice between private and public universities in Ghana, then consider the points raised in this article carefully before making your decision.
University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Cape Coast and University of Education, Winneba, are among the best public universities in Ghana. Ashesi university college, Wisconsin International University College, Central University College and Valley View University are also among the top private universities in Ghana. Below are the main differences between public and private universities in Ghana.
- Tuition Fees
Public universities in Ghana are owned by the state, and a significant aspect of public universities is that it is state-financed. The fund provided by the state is aimed at developing the infrastructure of the university, provide better educational opportunities and increase the exposure of the students enrolled. This has resulted in low tuition fees in public universities. For example, the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Cape Coast and University of Education tuition fees is less than GHS 3000.
However, currently the government has indicated a medium-term agenda to wean off public universities from the government payroll and instead provide a “block grant” to such institutions. The implication of this being that in the near future, tuition fees for public universities may be significantly higher, because public universities will be compelled to charge fees they consider appropriate so as to be able to run effectively.
Private universities in Ghana on the other hand are educational institutions whose financing originates from educational costs obtained from the students, ventures from donators, and private helpers. As a result, tuition fees in private universities are significantly higher than public universities. For example, Webster University, Lancaster University, Ashesi University College, and Academic City University College tuition fees is more than GHS 50,000.
2. Infrastructure
Infrastructure involves buildings, classrooms, laboratories, and equipment- education infrastructure – crucial elements of learning environments in universities. There is strong evidence that high-quality infrastructure facilitates better instruction, improves student outcomes, and reduces dropout rates, among other benefits
Public universities in Ghana, generally have better infrastructure: large and well-equipped lecture halls, well stocked libraries, state of the art laboratories and much more due to government funding. It must be noted that not all public universities in Ghana are well equipped, some have inadequate or dilapidated infrastructure. However, the top universities in Ghana; the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the University of Cape Coast and a few others have some of the best infrastructure you can find among universities in Ghana.
Private universities on the other hand, have fewer financial resources and less education infrastructure relative to public universities. This is because public universities receive annual subventions and infrastructural support from the government. There is the ubiquitous lack of finances for expansion as well as inadequate infrastructure in terms of lecture halls and halls of residence for students and staff of private universities in Ghana.
3. Courses
The vast majority of private universities in Ghana offer courses in the social sciences, art and humanities rather than science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), subjects that require more capital investment but are the central focus of government policies. Thus, private universities offer a limited menu of academic programmes. The net effect is that private universities are unable to compete with the public universities for the increasing number of students inclined towards STEM subjects. It should be noted that some private university colleges also specialize in science and technology such as Academic City University College and Regent University College of Science and Technology
The majority of private universities in Ghana also rely heavily on part-time lecturers, owing to their limited financial resources to hire permanent teaching staff. However, the part-time lecturers tend to combine multiple part-time teaching appointments, with a negative impact on their teaching. In addition, majority of the teaching staff of private universities in Ghana hold masters’ degrees which is contrary to the recommendation of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, which requires that the minimum qualification for university teaching in Ghana is a PhD.
Public universities on the other hand, offer courses in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, in addition to courses in the social sciences, art and humanities. Some public universities in Ghana specialize or offer more advanced courses in science and technology such as Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Health and Allied Sciences, and the University of Mines and Technology.
Public universities also have a large number of their staff as permanent workers due to government funding leading to a positive impact on their teaching. Data provided by the National Council for Tertiary Education, indicates that of the total number of staff in public universities, 317 are professors/associate professors, while 514 are senior lecturers, with 1,490 and 354 being lecturers and assistant lecturers respectively.
4. Population
The number of students enrolled in public universities in Ghana is significantly higher compared to private tertiary educational institutions. This has greatly affected the teacher to student ratio.
In public universities in Ghana, the ratio of academic population to the student population is six times more than the required internationally acceptable teacher-to- student ratio in all disciplines. This is as a result of the high number of students who are enrolled in public universities in Ghana. For instance, student-to-teacher ratio for business programmes currently stands at 161:1, which is against the normal standard of 27:1. Also, medicine, which is supposed to be 12:1 is now at 30:1, and such abnormal proportions run through all courses in public universities in Ghana.
Lecturers, in public universities in Ghana are also in short supply due to the fact that policy makers in Ghana have tightened qualification requirements into the teaching field. The minimum requirement is a doctorate, and all public universities’ lecturers have been instructed to upgrade their qualification to a minimum of a doctorate degree within the next five years. The few existing lectures are being asked to do more work for less reward which is affecting the quality of education in public universities in Ghana.
At most private universities in Ghana, the size of the student population is much smaller which equates to individual class sizes being smaller than most. In this type of setting, students receive much more one-on-one attention from the professor and do not exist as just a number. When a student is struggling with the course material, they have their professor readily available for support and help. Professors exist more as dedicated mentors at a private institution and students tend to be more dedicated as well because of the selectivity that exists when applying for a private university. The end result is a better understanding of the course material as well as better grades for the majority of the students enrolled.
Student populations are usually smaller at private colleges which provide for better research opportunities for undergraduates. Staff members have the ability to pick out unique students who excel in their curriculum and provide them with individualized projects when these students might go unnoticed in a larger setting of a public university. Students receive more individualised attention from not only their professors but also from advisors and career counsellors that are readily available to them throughout the school year. This can help provide better direction for students that lead them in the right direction for securing a job and beginning their career out in the field
Conclusion
To summarize, public universities charge less tuition fees but the selection criteria to get selected into these universities can be difficult due to high competition. On the other hand, private universities charge a higher tuition fee, but selection criteria are more flexible.
Public universities generally have better infrastructure: buildings, classrooms, laboratories, and equipment, while private universities may not have the funds to provide such infrastructure on a grand scale as public universities.
Another key point of difference between public vs private universities in Ghana, is that public universities offer a diverse and massive range of majors for its programs and courses while private universities might be specialised institutes or smaller institutions offering specialised study or a limited range of majors.
Public universities also have a bigger campus to be able to accommodate a huge student body, due to the large number of students enrolled. This leads to large class sizes and higher student-to-teacher ratios. Private universities pride themselves on their diversity while still having a smaller, more private campus with smaller class sizes and more one-on-one attention from lecturers and counsellors.