Public universities in the country continue to reject more qualified applicants due to limited facilities and staff.
The University of Ghana at its matriculation ceremony over the weekend said it could not admit about 39,645 qualified applicants who wanted to pursue both undergraduate and graduate programmes in the 2013/2014 academic year.
Though about 37,507 undergraduates and 2,138 graduates were denied admission, the University, however, managed to admit and enroll more students this academic year than it did last year.
Professor Ernest Aryeetey, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon explained that the situation was worse this year, owing to the fact that two groups of students sat the West African Senior School Certificate Examination in May/June 2013.
Professor Aryeetey said the University eventually had to reject 881 applicants who obtained between aggregates six and nine.
He said: “We are faced with the painful decision of having to turn down the applications of many otherwise well qualified applicants due to limitations of staff and facilities.”
The University of Education, Winneba also rejected 7,870 prospective undergraduates and graduates for the academic year.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Akwasi Asabere-Ameyaw said out of 13,173 applications received for undergraduate programmes at the main campus at Winneba and Ajumako, the University was able to offer admission to only 5,690, rejecting 7,480 applicants.
He added that out of 663 applications received for post-graduate programmes at the Winneba campus, 273, comprising 184 males and 89 females were offered admission.
The authorities of the University have therefore appealed to the Government to provide the needed resources for the procurement of equipment and infrastructure to facilitate work and studies.
The University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) Sunyani on Saturday said it rejected 349 prospective students and matriculated 560 students out of 909 applications received.
The matriculation marked the commencement of second academic year in the life of the institution since it was established by an Act of Parliament, Act 830 on December 31, 2011.
But, Professor Mrs. Esi Awuah, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said the statistics reflected an increase of approximately 280 per cent over the last year figure of 154.
She said the University could not admit more because of insufficient space, inadequate lecture theatres and laboratories.
She also appealed to government and the private sector to partner the University in providing adequate facilities and infrastructure to enhance access and quality.
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