The Centre for Continuing Education (CCE) of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has admitted 7,444 students out of over 10,000 applicants under its Distance Education Programme for the 2009/2010 academic year. The students would pursue Diploma and Bachelor degrees in Basic Education, Commerce and Management Studies and B.sc. in Marketing. The number constitutes an increase of 12.4 per cent over last year's admission of 6,522 students. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, who administered the matriculation oath in an address, expressed the Centre's commitment to review and add new programmes to meet the demands of the job market. The programmes, she said, would include a three-year diploma and degree in Psychology and Foundations of Education, and a three-year diploma and Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing. "We know that graduates of the Bachelor degree in Psychology and Foundations of Education will be better prepared for teaching in second cycle institutions and later, in the Colleges of Education after they have completed their M-Phil and PhD programmes," she added. Prof Opoku-Agyemang stated the centre's resolve to establish permanent study centres in all the regions and said "this had been captured in the university's five-year strategic plan. "In pursuance of this objective and with the intention to grow and groom its own products to add on to others who will be appointed to academic positions at the centre, the Board has decided, beginning next academic year, to award scholarships to a number of its first class graduates who have recently completed their programme of study to pursue graduate studies leading in the award of terminal degrees," she stressed. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang mentioned inadequate lecture rooms as a major challenge facing the increasing number of students under the CCE. She therefore urged the Board, to as a matter of urgency, start with the construction of permanent structures in the regional capitals with large student population, especially, where land had been acquired. "The construction of permanent structures in the regions will also bring into fruition the centre's plans to construct classrooms equipped with ICT facilities," she added. Touching on female admission, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang expressed concern over the reduction in the enrolment from last year's admission of 40 per cent to 37 per cent. She encouraged as many females as possible to access university education through the distance education programme. She appealed to the matriculants to study diligently to justify the investment being made in their education. Source: The Ghanaian Times