Visually-impaired students of the Nustrat Jahan Ahmadiyya (NJA) College of Education have expressed frustration over the consistent failure of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) to release their examination results for four academic years.
The students described the situation as worrying and a “blatant disregard for their academic wellbeing” by UEW, an affiliate and certificate awarding university to the NJA College of Education.
In a press release co-signed by Mr. Seidu Kamwinenaane Ibrahim and Mr. Dankwar Augustine, both visually-impaired students of the NJA College, they said the situation has plagued them for far too long and could no longer be condoned.
“Despite our tireless efforts to seek redress, our affiliate university, the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), has consistently failed to release our end-of-semester examination results, starting from Level 100 to Level 400, from 2021 to 2024.
“This blatant disregard for our academic well-being has resulted in our inability to access vital resources, including examination results, which are essential for academic progress and future opportunities,” the statement lamented.
The students added that the refusal of UEW to release their results has denied them opportunities to apply for scholarship schemes, which they said, has resulted in “undue stress, anxiety and financial hardship.”
The visually-impaired students have, thus, accused UEW of treating them unfairly and limiting their rights to education as they sighted colleagues usually have their results released promptly.
“This discriminatory practice is unacceptable and has caused us to feel marginalized and excluded from the academic community.
“We are not asking for special treatment but rather equal access to the resources and opportunities that are available to our sighted colleagues,” they said.
In efforts to get the matter resolved, the students said they had written to UEW with a covering letter from the NJA College, requesting the release of the release of the results, but they described the outcome of the letter as “a plea” that “fell on deaf ears.”
The visually-impaired students have, therefore, given UEW an ultimatum of up to the end of the month December to release the results or risk a legal procedure.
“We are giving the University of Education, Winneba, an ultimatum until the end of this month [December 2024] to release our results. If they fail to do so, we will be forced to take further action, including seeking redress in the courts,” they said.
The students called for the assistance of lawyers, legal experts, and justice-seeking institutions, to help them pursue the matter to a logical end.
While expressing gratitude to the Principal of the NJA College of Education, the students also appealed to the general public and all who matter, including the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), to compel UEW to release their results.
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