Parliament has suspended the consideration of the Public Universities Bill, Minority Spokesperson on Education, Peter Nortsu Kotoe, has revealed.
This follows the opposition of the passage of the bill by the public, especially members of the university community.
Speaking to Class News’ parliamentary affairs reporter, Charles Akrofi, the Akatsi North MP on Thursday, 22 October 2020 explained that after taking a look at the bill, the committee recommended that government suspend its passage.
“We have recommended that in view of the criticism and the number of petitions that we have received, it will be better for the government to hold on with the passing of the bill because there’s the need, still, for greater consultation so it will not feature as part of the bills we’re doing for this meeting of Parliament,” Mr Kotoe stated.
The MP reiterated his earlier position that the bill was not necessary and would only end up stifling the freedom of the country’s universities.
“Because it was going to stifle the freedom of the universities, so academic freedom will be stifled.
“I’ve been of that position long ago, so, if it does not go through, better for government,” the Minority Spokesperson on Education noted.
The bill, if passed, would harmonise governance operations and administration of public universities across the country,