Iyke: Media urged to partner gov’t in re-branding polytechnic education

Prof Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman

The Minister of Education, Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang has discouraged the media from painting a gloomy picture about technical and vocational training but instead partner stakeholders in re-branding the system particularly polytechnic education. For her, it has become imperative for the media to place in the spotlight successful persons and businesses of technical and vocational background. Such positive lights she noted could erase some public misconceptions about Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Prof Opoku Agyemang made the call at the 3^rd Congregation of Bolgatanga Polytechnic at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. According to her polytechnic education has come of age and it is high time we put hands on deck and give it the needed developmental push to enable it play its mandated role and give meaning to the provision of the Polytechnic Act 745. She announced that in line with the new orientation in educational sector, TVET is to be re-positioned to assist polytechnic blaze a new trail in tertiary education where there will be healthy blend of practical competency acquisition and theory. This when brought to fruition will make polytechnics the hub to producing graduates who will be practically- oriented without sacrificing academic excellence. Prof Opoku Agyeman however disclosed government’s determination to strengthen the capacity of the human resource base of polytechnics and urged the country’s polytechnics to take advantage of the funding opportunities including the skills Development Fund offered by the Councils for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET) to address and sharpen their skills, technology and competency gap. She said government recognizes the importance of polytechnic education and has therefore put in place mechanisms to upgrade them to full fledge technical universities. To the graduands, Prof Opoku Agyemang said what matters is what they do with their degrees and how they go about it after completion. She encouraged them to turn their challenges into opportunities and put their expertise to bear by beginning with any small way to help themselves and their families. The Rector Bolgatanga Polytechnic, Dr Mba Atinga paid glowing tribute to the chiefs, founding members, staff and the entire governing council of the institute for their selfless contribution to the growth and success of the school. He appealed to the sector minister to partner the GETfund in assisting the school with a 2,000 seater multi-purpose auditorium to host big events and further appealed for a lecture theatre complex to enable the school increase its intake substantially since they have the needed lecturers to support even a 100 percent increase in student enrollment Dr Atinga requested all major stakeholders including MMDAs to give the school special consideration in the allocation of resources. In all about 608 graduands drawn from 11 departments for the year 2011/12 were conferred with various Higher National Diplomas (HNDs). Students that excelled in various academic disciplines were honoured with awards. This year’s congregation attracted dignitaries including the Regional Minister and his deputy as well as officials from NAPTEX, GETfund and rectors from sister polytechnics.

GBC END IA/