The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has closed down 149 open distance learning institutions that were found to be operating without the necessary authorization and accreditation.
The Director-General of GTEC, Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, indicated that many of the affected centers were located within second-cycle schools that are already facing challenges due to the double-track system.
Currently, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission has identified approximately 149 distance learning centers. These centers are not suitable for their intended purpose. They are being operated in churches, public works departments, and even in the offices of the electricity company. We cannot permit this to continue,” he remarked.
Professor Jinapor, while addressing a two-day capacity-building workshop on the implementation strategies of Ghana’s Open and Distance Learning (ODL) policy on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, warned that such practices undermine the fundamental principles of distance education.
“Ghana has been diligently working to enhance tertiary education; however, it appears that distance education is being supplanted by distancing education,” he observed.
“Mimicking traditional classrooms in various locations throughout the country cannot be classified as distance education.”
In the meantime, Professor Olugbemiro Jegede, a Commonwealth consultant on the ODL policy, urged a clear national agreement on what constitutes open distance learning and the methods for its implementation.
GTEC has reiterated its dedication to maintaining quality and reinforcing regulation in the provision of tertiary education nationwide.
