"Do not undermine the establishment of a University" - Minister Advises

Anloga, Aug. 3, GNA - Mr. Joseph Amenowode, Volta Regional Minister, has advised the people of the area not to allow their individual local interests to stall the decision to establish a public university in the region.

He asked them not preoccupy themselves with the location and name of the university, noting that such divisive tendencies would only end up thwarting the region's progress.

Speaking at the 35th Anniversary and First Home Coming of the Anlo Technical Institute (ANTEC) Old Students Association, at the weekend, at Anloga, Mr. Amenowode said the University of Health and Allied Sciences with 11 faculties would start next year in fulfilment of the Government's 2008 Campaign promise.

"Let us allow the university to be established first and other things would be added on to it," he said.

Mr. Amenowode commended the staff and students of ANTEC of the success they had chalked so far, thereby disproving the erroneous thinking that only less capable students pursue technical and vocational education.

He said all second cycle schools, including the four technical institutes in the region, were currently benefiting under a massive infrastructure project scheme to prepare them for more admissions, and another project would take off soon to build structures for 80 first cycle public schools under trees.

Mr. Tettey-Enyo, Minister of Education, represented, complained about the checkered approach to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the past and said the Government is currently streamlining it.

He said the study of core subjects have been introduced under the educational reform program to make TVET broader to enable students to pursue courses to the university level.

Mr. Tettey-Enyo said an agreement with South Korea and Australia to supply training equipment to selected technical institutes would finally be extended to all institutes in the country, adding that, a well developed TVET remains the best anchor for the country's development.

Mr. Marcus Segbefia, the Principal, ANTEC, called for of a 300 capacity dormitory block, science laboratory, workshops, staff common room and quarters, and the completion of the workshop building, which was abandoned 22 years ago.

Mr. Wisdom Dzokoto, President, Old Students Association noted that the relationship between the old students and the school management had not been a good one and called for its betterment in the institute's interest.