Poly students have no right - Prof Kwami

THE Chairman of the Ho Polytechnic Council, Professor F. O. Kwami, has made it clear that polytechnic students have no right to determine the grading system in their institutions.

He recalled their attempted invasion of the presidency and hunger strike, which could not resolve the impasse and appealed to them to comply with laid-down regulations.

He said although the President could intervene, it was only the statutory bodies regulating polytechnic education that could effect any changes in the academic system.

Professor Kwami, who is a member of the Educational Review Committee, was responding to concerns expressed by some participants at a forum at New Abirem in the Birim North District of the Eastern Region at the weekend.

He admitted that there was merit in some of the issues raised by the students but said most of their demands involved issues that required long-term attention and advised them to return to the classroom while efforts were being made to address their grievances.

Prof Kwami, a former Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), said until last week, students of the Ho Polytechnic had not made any representation to him through the academic board as required by the regulations.

He said based on a representation from the Committee of the Polytechnics, the chairmen of the institutions had forwarded a report to the National Board for Polytechnic and Technical Examinations to enable it to take a look at the concerns of the students.

The Birim North District Chief Executive, Mr S. K. Ahenkorah, appealed to the government to find a lasting solution to the polytechnic problem.

He announced plans by the district assembly to establish a teacher training college as part of efforts to improve the quality of education in the area. Mr Ahenkorah also announced the establishment of a ?2 billion endowment fund to promote education in the area.

The Chairman of the Ghana Education Trust Fund, Mrs Sylvia Boye, asked parents to play a more active role in the education of their children.