- GTEC has shut down 149 distance learning centres for operating without accreditation.
- Many were located in churches, public offices, and second-cycle schools.
- Officials say these centres undermine the purpose of distance education.
- GTEC is pushing for stricter regulation and quality assurance across the tertiary sector.
- The closures highlight the tension between educational access and academic integrity.
The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has closed down 149 open distance learning centres across the country for operating without proper accreditation. The move, announced during a two-day workshop on Ghana’s Open and Distance Learning (ODL) policy, marks a major crackdown on institutions deemed “unfit for purpose.”
According to GTEC, many of the affected centres were operating out of unconventional spaces — including churches, public works offices, and even electricity company buildings — often within second-cycle schools already burdened by the double-track system. Officials say these setups compromise the integrity of distance education and mislead students seeking flexible learning options.
Director-General Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai emphasized that replicating traditional classrooms in scattered, unregulated locations does not qualify as distance education. He warned that such practices distort the purpose of ODL and risk turning a promising educational model into a chaotic alternative.
The Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing quality standards and protecting students from academic exploitation. Education analysts say the closures reflect broader challenges in regulating Ghana’s rapidly expanding tertiary sector, where demand for flexible learning has outpaced oversight.
