Tamale, Feb. 1 GNA- President John Agyekum Kufour at the weekend stated that the government would overhaul polytechnic education to make it more responsive to the developmental needs and aspirations of the country. He said in this regard therefore government was gradually laying a solid foundation so as to be able to achieve macro-economic stability to create a viable and sustainable environment, which would send signals to the business world that Ghana is ready for economic growth.
President Kufour said this in a speech read for him by Mr Rashid Bawa, Deputy Minister of Education, Youth and Sports at the First Congregation of the Tamale Polytechnic since it was established in 1993.
In all one thousand and fifty students graduated and were awarded with the Higher National Diploma (HND) certificate in various subjects. Mr Salifu Kamil of the 1999-year group won the first class division in business and management studies HND accountancy.
President Kufour said the Ministry of Education together with the Ministry of Manpower was studying how best to adjust the structure of the educational system and workforce to fit into the new paradigm of nation building.
He said this was to ensure that at whatever level of post- secondary training that a Ghanaian would attain, has further opportunities of up-dating and re-skilling himself, whether at the polytechnic or university level and even go deeper and further in his education according to his interest, aptitude and ability.
President Kufour said as the main institutions which produce the middle level manpower needs for the accelerated growth of the country, the government would continue to provide the necessary infrastructure such as the on-going construction and rehabilitation of classroom blocks and hostels for polytechnics.
He said the establishment of the GETFUND was another means by which government sought to ensure the sustainable funding of education, so that, "the development and maintenance of essential academic facilities and infrastructure, together with the undertaking of research and other academic programmes of relevance to national development among others, would be vigorously pursued".
President Kufour reiterated the need for peace in Dagbon and in the country as a whole, saying: "Our education and our chosen professions would come to naught if we cannot use the knowledge acquired to develop our localities."
Professor Mohammed .Z. Ibrahimah, Principal of the Tamale Polytechnic, in his report said over the few years the institution had introduced a number of major developments, which have re-shaped the polytechnic, adding that the most significant one was the merger of the Intermediate Programmes with those of the HND, both of which are running concurrently as full-time programmes.
He said the merger provided opportunities for the students even at the craft and vocational levels to: "savour a future for upward mobility and also creates an avenue for the graduates from the outlying technical schools to come over here and better their lot".
Professor Ibrahimah said the school had benefit from development projects since 2001 through the GETFUND including the rehabilitation two student halls of residence adding that the GETFUND was also currently financed the construction of a new lecture hall complex with 32 offices.
He said Funds had also recently been made available for the construction of a new hall of residence to accommodate 300 students while a computer science block to seat 200 students was also under construction.
Professor Ibrahimah, said with regards to staff development they have been encouraging their lectures to avail themselves for the under and post graduate training courses both in the country and abroad. Due to this initiative, he said, whilst five years ago, the polytechnic had only eight members of staff with master's degrees, there were now 19 of them with master's degrees in several disciplines that the institution offered teaching in the polytechnic.
Professor Ibrahimah said, apart from this, there was another 30 members of staff pursuing courses in the country and overseas in various fields of study.
He said despite all these achievements the polytechnic was still facing infrastructure development problems, such as staff accommodation, the tarring of the dusty roads of the campus and a poor furnished library. Alhaji Basit Fuseini, Chairman of the Governing Council of the Tamale Polytechnic appealed to the government to institute a scholarship Scheme for polytechnics similar to what pertains in other universities to enable the staff to pursue higher academic laurels.
He advised the students not to take the law into their hands by unnecessarily confronting school authorities on their perceived grievances but follow the right channel to resolve their grievances.
