The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has ordered the closure of 149 open distance learning institutions found to be operating without proper authorisation and accreditation.

Director-General of GTEC, Professor Ahmed Jinapor Abdulai, revealed that many of the affected centres were situated within second-cycle schools already grappling with the double-track system.

He made this known while addressing participants at a two-day capacity-building workshop on the implementation strategies of Ghana’s Open and Distance Learning (ODL) policy on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.

“As we speak, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission has flagged down about 149 distance learning centres. These centres are unfit for purpose. They are being run in churches, public works departments and even electricity company offices. We cannot allow this to happen,” he said.

Prof. Jinapor emphasised that such practices compromise the integrity of distance education.

“Ghana has been working hard to promote tertiary education, but unfortunately, distance education seems to be replaced by distancing education,” he noted.

“Replicating traditional classrooms in scattered locations across the country cannot be deemed distance education.”

The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding standards and strengthening regulatory oversight to ensure quality in the delivery of tertiary education nationwide.