In a climacteric effort to maintain academic integrity, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has expressed serious concerns about the growing trend of institutions misclassifying combined bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes as Doctoral degrees.
GTEC has declared that from now on, only Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and equivalent terminal degrees will be recognized as valid doctoral qualifications. This step is intended to clarify the educational framework and ensure that degree titles accurately reflect the level of education received.
Key directives include:
Distinction of Degree Programmes: Institutions must clearly separate combined Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes, preventing any misrepresentation as Doctoral qualifications.
Restrictions on Degree Labelling Bachelor’s programmes lasting five years or more that are labelled as “Doctor” will no longer be accepted, helping to reduce confusion for prospective students and employers.
GTEC stresses that adherence to these new guidelines is essential for all educational institutions in their upcoming accreditation submissions. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to uphold the quality and credibility of higher education in Ghana.
As GTEC reaffirms its commitment to academic excellence, institutions are encouraged to quickly adapt to these changes to benefit students and preserve the integrity of the educational system.