Polytechnic-University affiliations should be for limited period

Ho, Nov. 15, GNA- Professor Frank Obed Kwami, Chairman of the Ho Polytechnic Council Saturday called for a limited period of affiliation of Polytechnics to the Universities in running Bachelor of Technology, (B.Tech) programmes. "What the Polytechnics need and want is not Institutional Affiliation", instead "the Polytechnics only need Programme Affilitation with these older universities for a few years".

That limited relationship was necessary "in order not to transform the B.Tech Degrees into university degrees", he explained. Prof. Kwami was addressing the ninth congregation of the Polytechnic at which Higher National Diplomas HNDs) were awarded to 603 students. Prof. Kwami said the danger however, "in this Programme Affiliation is the veering away of the objectives of polytechnic education towards the objectives of university education in the degree programmes". "But this should not be the case". "Seriously, this should not be allowed to happen in order to give meaning to the future higher degrees of the Polytechnics such as the M.Tech." he cautioned. Professor Kwami said the Polytechnics should have a stream of progression of their own within the polytechnic system which guarantees the production of a workforce imbued with deep knowledge and advanced skills, tailored for specific careers in industry which the country direly needed.

He said moving Technical and Vocational Training (TVET) "from the bottom of the ladder to the top should be the top priority for Government".

Prof. Kwami said it was therefore heart warming that students from Technical and Vocational Institutes were being taken through "bridging courses" to enable them to gain access to the polytechnics. He however, lamented that the Polytechnics were fast losing the cream of their academic staff to the universities and industry due to poor salaries and working conditions.

Prof. Kwami however appealed to the staff of the polytechnics to exercise restraint, "as better conditions are being negotiated". "He assured the graduands that they have good prospects to land good jobs as "Ho Polytechnic graduates are in high demand. But it is an achievement which must be sustained". In an address read for him, Professor Dominic Fobih, Education Science and Sports Minister, advised the graduands to take advantage of several opportunities to set up their own businesses and offer employment to others.

He said the provision of excellent infrastructure facilities in the polytechnics and enhanced allowances to lecturers attest to the government's commitment to addressing all the challenges involved in polytechnic education including conditions of service of their staff. Prof. Fobih therefore appealed to polytechnic staff to exercise restraint since time was needed to solve the problems relating to their service conditions.

Dr. Komla Dzisi, Rector of the Polytechnic said the Institution was setting specialized computer systems for the various schools to help graduates to fit into the world of work. He advised the graduates to keep in touch with the Polytechnic "in ensuring that your alma mater is still the best".