Parliament’s Education Committee in collaboration with the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) and other stakeholders will on Wednesday, discuss various needed amendments before taking further steps to pass the Public Universities Bill (PUB).

Speaking to JoyNews, Ranking Member for Parliament’s Education Committee, Peter Notsu stated that the meeting would allow various stakeholders to propose possible amendments to the bill.

“Although we have taken the second reading of the bill, we will still meet those University organisations like GRASAG, UTAG and the Students Representative Council so we can take on board whatever concerns they will have. If there is the need to probably make further amendments to the bill,” he said.

Mr Peter Notsu noted that measures will be put in place to ensure the freedom of tertiary institutions contrary to claims that they will be compromised as touted by UTAG.

In utter shock, President for UTAG, Professor Charles Ofosu Marfo in response to the second presentation of the bill ted that the association did not expect it to be relayed to Parliament after noting key concerns to the Education Committee.

“We have made it clear that the Bill in its current state is inimical to academic freedom, and [is] in fact unconstitutional. Someone needs to review such a Bill, have us peruse it, get ourselves satisfied before we can move on to do anything,” the Mr Ofosu Marfo stated.

According to the association, they are poised to fight for academic freedom and autonomy, which they argue the PUB in its current state seeks to deprive tertiary institutions of.

The Public Universities Bill was read the second time on Tuesday, December 15, during which Parliament debated on the principles of the bill.