Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Minister for Education
The National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), has assured that the four polytechnics that did not make it in the first batch of conversion, will be given the needed attention to enable them overcome their short comings.
In a statement issued on Monday, the NCTE indicated that the polytechnics that did not make it in the first batch of conversion will receive attention from the NCTE and Government to address the identified shortcomings in the shortest time possible.
Find below their full statement
RE: CONVERSION OF POLYTECHNICS TO TECHNICAL UNIVERSITIES
The National Council for Tertiary Education has followed with keen interest and concern, continuing discussions in the media of the processes and procedure for selection of eligible polytechnics for the first batch of conversion to Technical Universities. It is understandable that these may have been largely inspired by anxiety about the future of polytechnics that are not in the first list.
But, sadly, it has also been observed that several misrepresentations about the processes continue to be thrown into the otherwise useful discourse. For the benefit of the general public, the Council sought to shed light on the painstaking and consultative steps taken towards the conversion since the declaration of intent by the President in 2013. This was contained in a press statement published on Page 36 of the Tuesday, February 23, 2016 edition of the Daily Graphic.
Further to the above mentioned press release, the Council, at the instance of the Ministry of Education, has taken steps to engage directly with the affected polytechnics, as a result of which the following principles were collectively reiterated:
That the policy objective to eventually convert ALL polytechnics into Technical Universities has not changed
That the process of conversion needs to be properly controlled and rolled out in phases for effectiveness, given that the institutions are not at the same level in terms of critical infrastructure and resources
That the polytechnics that do not make it in the first batch of conversion will receive priority attention from the NCTE and Government to address the identified shortcomings in the shortest time possible
That at any time in the future that a polytechnic feels it has met the key criteria for conversion, it can apply to the NCTE for the necessary reassessment and recommendation to enable it make the transition
That Cape Coast and Tamale Polytechnics have already applied for reassessment based on reported progress made since the last exercise and that NCTE shall endeavor to handle these requests expeditiously
That provided that the reassessments to be done by NCTE result in a positive outcome, it is still possible that the list of six (6) polytechnics currently constituting the first batch to make the transition may yet be amended to include the additionally qualified polytechnic or polytechnics
The NCTE wishes to assure the general public and the affected polytechnics that it remains committed to these principles and to preserving the integrity of the process of conversion. It is hoped that these further clarifications will finally put to rest any lingering agitations around the issue. We therefore call on all stakeholders to ensure that calm returns to the campuses to enable normal academic and administrative work to resume without let or hindrance.
Management of the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE),
March 14, 2016
