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Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Minister of Education, on Saturday re-affirmed government's commitment to ensure quality education, saying it will not relent in supporting the growth of academic institutions in the country. She said the government had great confidence in education and the benefits the sector offers and would do all it could to support institutions willing to make that objective achievable. The Minister was speaking at the 3rd Graduation Ceremony of the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS) held in Accra, which saw a total of 1,842 students graduated with bachelor degrees and diplomas in various fields. The number comprised 729 diploma holders where 6.59 percent attained distinction and 1,113 undergraduate students with 4.31 percent attaining first class honours. Second Class Upper, Second Class Lower and Third Class honours comprised 17.97 per cent, 56.42 per cent and, 19.05 percent respectively. Only 2.25 percent obtained pass mark. Mrs Mould-Iddrisu commended the management of the Institute for their commitment towards the expansion of the Institution through its ongoing massive infrastructural development. She also lauded the efforts of the Institute with the addition of undergraduate and graduate degree programmes, which she described as significant contribution to the fulfilment of the educational needs of the nation. The Minister said Information and Technology were fast changing, adding that the education received by the students at the Institute had provided them with strong academic foundation and a good set of skills to adapt to emerging challenges. Mrs Mould-Iddrisu urged the graduates to continually upgrade their knowledge and be lifelong learners to excel and remain relevant at their profession in keeping their competitive edge. She advised the students to be honest, work hard, discipline, loyal to friends and families and have devotion to God and compassion for anything they did in order to succeed in life. Mrs Mould-Iddrisu also urged them to translate the theories learnt into practice stressing that they should be themselves and focus on things they had the greatest advantage in. Professor Joshua Alabi, Rector of IPS, said the Institute received 6,341 qualified applications for admission into various programmes and noted that out of that 3,230 were admitted. They comprised 38 professional students, 871 diploma students, 2,077 undergraduate students and 244 postgraduate students. Prof Alabi said that brought the current overall student enrolment to 8,181. He said MBA (Master of Business Administration) Marketing programme had started at the School of Research and Graduate Studies and also added that new programmes such as MBA in Petroleum Accounting and Finance, BSc in Information Technology Management, Diploma in Information Technology Management and Bachelor of Public Relations Management would soon be introduced. He said other programmes like BSc in Health Services and Administration and MBA in Oil and Gas Management had been approved by the Institute's Academic Board and soon the National Accreditation Board would approve them. Prof Alabi noted that a total of 60 students were withdrawn from the Institute for poor academic performance during the year. He said the Institute had signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of IIorin in Kwara State of Nigeria for exchange programmes. IPS, the Rector added, had now become a member of the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in the country, which offered access to unlimited academic library resources. Prof. Alabi advised the graduates to be good ambassadors of the country and �open their eyes, minds, and hearts and dream big� to enable them to face the challenges of life. Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, Member of Parliament for Afigya Sekeyere West, was awarded with a plaque by the Institute for his contribution in transforming the IPS and the revival of the Alumni.