Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo (middle) Minister of Education in a chat with Dr. Festus Addo-Yobo, (right) Rector, Accra Polytechnic and Prof Joshua Alabi, Chairman of Chairmen of the Governing Councils of Polytechnics. Photo: Michael Ayeh
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31st March, 2010
Polytechnic Heads Attend Forum
THE chairmen of the Governing Councils of polytechnics in the country have called on the government to as a matter of urgency, address the challenges besetting the polytechnics to enable them to continue training the required level manpower for national development.
Consequently, they have urged the government to expedite action on the preparation of a legislative instrument to operationalise the Polytechnic Act 2007, Act 745.
This was contained in a communiqué signed by all the 10 governing councils chairpersons at the end of their three-day consultative forum held at Dodowa in the Dangme West District of the Greater Accra Region.
The polytechnics resolved to stay focused on their core mandate of progression (HND, B.Tech, M.Tech and D.Tech) rather than seek to duplicate programmes in existing universities.
The communiqué said to create a better balance between the answer of the polytechnics (public), the polytechnic employees and also the public interest, the composition of the membership of the governing council should be increased from 13 to 15 in accordance with Act 745.
The two new members should be selected from the National Council for Tertiary Education and an additional government nominee.
The communiqué noted the role being played by the polytechnics in the national development agenda and urged the government to mandate the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), the National Accreditation Board (NAB) and the National Board for Professional and Technician Examinations (NABTEX) to draw up a comprehensive programme for funding the continuity of the competence based training following the completion of the various pilot projects.
It called for the enhancement of the condition of service of rectors to attract and retain high calibre of professionals to lead the polytechnics.
The Minister of Education, Alex Tettey-Enyo, urged the polytechnics to let the substance of their status govern the way they do things to reflect the vision of what the polytechnics want to become.
He noted that even though the issue of accreditation and affiliation of diplomas and degrees was debatable, “it is important that adequate steps are taken to put the institutions on a sound footing”.
He said the agenda for change must be to promote the growth of technical and vocational training as well as attractive remuneration for hard work.
Mr. Tettey-Enyo appealed to the governing councils to judiciously use their internally generated funds (IGF) to maintain facilities of the institutions.
“You must use part of the profit accruing to the polytechnics to promote social agenda as well as keep such fees within reasonable levels to facilitate accessibility to tertiary education.”
Consequently, they have urged the government to expedite action on the preparation of a legislative instrument to operationalise the Polytechnic Act 2007, Act 745.
This was contained in a communiqué signed by all the 10 governing councils chairpersons at the end of their three-day consultative forum held at Dodowa in the Dangme West District of the Greater Accra Region.
The polytechnics resolved to stay focused on their core mandate of progression (HND, B.Tech, M.Tech and D.Tech) rather than seek to duplicate programmes in existing universities.
The communiqué said to create a better balance between the answer of the polytechnics (public), the polytechnic employees and also the public interest, the composition of the membership of the governing council should be increased from 13 to 15 in accordance with Act 745.
The two new members should be selected from the National Council for Tertiary Education and an additional government nominee.
The communiqué noted the role being played by the polytechnics in the national development agenda and urged the government to mandate the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), the National Accreditation Board (NAB) and the National Board for Professional and Technician Examinations (NABTEX) to draw up a comprehensive programme for funding the continuity of the competence based training following the completion of the various pilot projects.
It called for the enhancement of the condition of service of rectors to attract and retain high calibre of professionals to lead the polytechnics.
The Minister of Education, Alex Tettey-Enyo, urged the polytechnics to let the substance of their status govern the way they do things to reflect the vision of what the polytechnics want to become.
He noted that even though the issue of accreditation and affiliation of diplomas and degrees was debatable, “it is important that adequate steps are taken to put the institutions on a sound footing”.
He said the agenda for change must be to promote the growth of technical and vocational training as well as attractive remuneration for hard work.
Mr. Tettey-Enyo appealed to the governing councils to judiciously use their internally generated funds (IGF) to maintain facilities of the institutions.
“You must use part of the profit accruing to the polytechnics to promote social agenda as well as keep such fees within reasonable levels to facilitate accessibility to tertiary education.”
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