The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has instructed the Wiawso College of Education to develop more effective and innovative measures to recover GH¢380,315.23 in unpaid student fees, much of which is owed by former students.

This follows revelations contained in the Auditor-General’s report, which showed that 1,016 students collectively owe the institution GH¢587,397.13 in arrears. Out of this amount, 510 graduates are responsible for GH¢488,085.85.

During its sitting in Kumasi, the college’s management informed the Committee that it has managed to retrieve GH¢207,081.90 so far, representing less than half of the total outstanding balance.

The institution explained that a large share of the debt originates from beneficiaries of the Untrained Teachers Diploma in Basic Education (UTDBE) programme. It noted that some of these individuals have completed their studies but have neither paid their fees nor returned to collect their certificates.

Management added that it has been using certificate withholding as a way to encourage payment, but admitted that the approach has not been very successful.

However, the Committee raised concerns over the recovery efforts, stressing that the college must adopt stronger and more proactive strategies to ensure the funds are fully retrieved.

“I think that sitting down to wait for people to come for their certificates before you recover the money is not good enough. You have been instructed to recover the monies. You need to come up with innovative ways of recovery.

“These are teachers who are in the system and are being paid, so there are ways of tracking the monies,” member of the Committee and Atwima Nwabiagya South MP, Shirley Kyei, emphasised.