David Newton delivering a speech at the ceremony
The Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) will start postgraduate degree programmes next academic year, following the approval of four masters programmes by the National Council for Tertiary Education (NTCE).
The Rector of GIJ, David Newton announced this during the matriculation ceremony of the fourth batch of students admitted since the school was granted a presidential charter.
The rector explained that since the presentation of the Presidential Charter in 2009, the Academic Board of the Institute, in consultation with some key stakeholders, have reviewed the entire curriculum and incorporated a number of innovative programmes and courses.
?I am very happy to announce that the Educational Sub-committee of the National Council for Tertiary Education (NTCE) has approved four masters programmes to be executed by the institute,? he noted.
According to Mr. Newton, these programmes included Development Communication, Media Management, journalism and Public Relations.
He further added that they were currently awaiting approval by the National Accreditation Board (NAB) to enable the aforementioned programmes to start early next year.
After the official opening of the institute on October 16, 1959, by the then Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Kofi Baako, the school moved to the present site which used to house the Ghana Press Club and also a residential apartment of Richard MacMillan, the first director of the school.
Mr. Newton said out of the 1500 applications for this year, 573 candidates gained admission to pursue various programmes, adding that females were more than the males with 377 enlisted whilst the males were 196 for both degree and diploma programmes.
Apparently, the institute has seen a significant transformation and population increase; therefore, the need to increase its physical structures to alleviate the unavailability of lecture halls and hostels for students.
According to the rector, an amount of GH?4.9 million provided by the GETFund for the procurement of a four-storey classroom block at Okponglo, has been successfully approved by the Central Review Tender Board to start work.
He further urged the matriculants to abide by the rules and regulations and maintain strict adherence to the disciplinary code and ethical values of the institute.
Deputy Executive Secretary of National Council for Technical Education (NACTE), Paul Dzandu who represented the Minister of Education as the guest speaker, said as a manifestation of commitments and efforts made by the institute to increase enrolment and develop its structures, the ministry fully appreciated the efforts of the governing council and management for working hard to ensuring the building contract was signed.
He said the ministry has promised to support GIJ to source for more financial resources in order to develop the new site into one of the finest state-of-the-art universities in the country.
Mr. Dzandu further urged the students to take their studies seriously and not to be dazzled by the instant mirror around them which were mostly short-lived.
