The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PAC) has directed the Wiawso College of Education to adopt more innovative ways to recover GH¢380,315.23 in outstanding student arrears, much of which is owed by former students.
The directive follows findings from the Auditor-General’s report, which revealed that 1,016 students owe the college a total of GH¢587,397.13 in unpaid fees. Out of this figure, 510 graduates alone account for GH¢488,085.85.
Appearing before the Committee during its sitting in Kumasi, management of the college disclosed that it has so far recovered GH¢207,081.90, less than half of the total amount owed.
The institution explained that a significant portion of the debt is linked to the Untrained Teachers Diploma in Basic Education (UTDBE) programme, where some beneficiaries completed their studies but failed to settle their fees or return to collect their certificates.
According to management, the college has been relying on withholding certificates as a way to compel payment, but admitted that the strategy has not been very effective.
However, members of the Committee were not satisfied with that approach, urging the college to be more proactive in retrieving the funds.
“I think that sitting down to wait for people to come for their certificates before you recover the money is not good enough. You have been instructed to recover the monies. You need to come up with innovative ways of recovery,” said Shirley Kyei.
“These are teachers who are in the system and are being paid, so there are ways of tracking the monies,” she added.
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