Valley View University has called for a stronger partnership between homes and educational institutions in shaping the character of young people, stressing that academic training must go hand in hand with values formation to produce responsible and dependable graduates.
The Pro Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Peter Agyekum Boateng, made the call in a Father’s Day reflection where he emphasized that lecturers and administrators play a crucial mentoring role in the lives of students beyond academic instruction.
According to him, while lecturers and administrators are not biological fathers, they often become trusted figures who provide guidance, correction and emotional support to students navigating key life decisions.
“Lecturers and administrators help students in making wise decisions at critical stages,” Prof. Boateng said. “A word from a lecturer can awaken confidence, a kind response from an administrator removes fear and timely correction changes behaviour positively.”
He described Valley View University as an institution that deliberately balances discipline with care, ensuring that students are guided in a structured but supportive environment.
“We want students to know that it is a serious environment but also a caring environment,” he said. “We expect hard work but we also provide support. We expect students to follow rules, but we treat them with dignity.”
Prof. Boateng outlined five core values that define the university as excellence, integrity, discipline, respect and service, stating that these values should be actively embedded in both academic and campus life.
He explained that excellence demands commitment to high standards, integrity promotes honesty and fairness, discipline ensures responsibility and order, respect strengthens relationships within the university community, and service encourages students to think beyond themselves and contribute to society.
He further observed that the growth of technology, digital learning and social media influence has created a new challenge for student development, as young people are exposed to many competing values. He urged institutions of higher learning to collaborate more closely with homes in guiding students to use innovation responsibly and remain grounded in sound moral and ethical principles.
He stressed that universities alone cannot fully shape character without support from the home, noting that fathers in particular play a foundational role in instilling values in their children.
“Education can open doors, but values determine how a person behaves inside the room, especially when no one is watching,” he said.
Prof. Boateng further warned against passive fatherhood where parental involvement begins only after problems arise, instead of consistent engagement from early stages of a child’s development.
He noted that financial support alone is not sufficient to raise responsible children, adding that fathers must take active interest in their children’s education, behaviour and aspirations.
“Paying school fees alone is not enough to raise a responsible child,” he said. “A wise father listens, guides, and walks closely with the child.”
Prof. Boateng concluded by expressing appreciation to fathers across Ghana for their sacrifices and commitment to family life, urging continued collaboration between homes and educational institutions in shaping responsible citizens.
Valley View University, he reaffirmed, remains committed to producing graduates who are not only academically competent but also morally grounded, disciplined and ready to serve society.
By: Michael Walier
