Space FM, Sunyani -The president of the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana, (POTAG), Mr. Richard Nkrumah, has debunked the notion that POTAG is a 'striking association' saying it is only when all letters, appeals, consultations and negotiations behind the scenes for peaceful solutions fail that the association resorts to industrial actions.
Mr. Nkrumah said this when addressing the13th Annual Delegates' Congress of POTAG in Sunyani under the theme: "The Polytechnic Teacher And the New Education Reform."
He regretted that within the last seven years, 63 lecturers have left Sunyani Polytechnic to other tertiary institutions for better conditions of service and called on the National Labour Commission to ensure the finalization of negotiations with POTAG to ensure stability in the country's polytechnics.
The president noted that in August alone, four lecturers of the Liberal and General Studies Department of the Sunyani Polytechnic which he heads, have left to teach in various universities.
“The most worrying aspect is that you can not restraint them from leaving though the polytechnics have spent a lot in training them” he said.
The paramount Chief of the Bechem Traditional Area, Nana Fosu Gyeabour II, called on government to improve conditions of service of Polytechnic Teachers to help to produce quality human resource base needed for national development.
"The only way to propel the nation to a middle income level status depends on polytechnic education," he added. He advised members of the association to use dialogue and negotiations rather than resorting to industrial action in their quest for improved conditions of service.
Nana Gyeabour noted that sustainability of the new educational reform at the tertiary level depended on polytechnic teachers, hence the need to acknowledge their challenges for redress.
The Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr. Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, pledged government's commitment and preparedness to ensure an effective human capital base to promote industrialization.
He stressed the importance to nurture and sustain the country's basic technical skills for better quality of life for the people. Mr. Baffour-Awuah expressed concern about lack of competent staff and inadequate technical tools and equipment in polytechnics that were hampering effective teaching and learning.
He debunked the notion that vocational and technical education is meant for low achievers and underscored the need for a high comprehensive technical expertise needed for national development. The regional minister urged polytechnic teachers to venture into other areas to generate extra income to better their living conditions.
He suggested that they could form consultancy units and offer advise and suggestions to government and other big companies.
Mr Baffour Awuah assured polytechnic teachers that the government would continue to better their lot.
