The six polytechnics earmarked for conversion into technical universities – Accra, Ho, Koforidua, Kumasi, Sunyani and Takoradi – have all met the eligibility criteria for the upgrade, the parliamentary select committee on education has said.
The committee on Tuesday July 19 explained in a report jointly signed by Mathias A. Puozaa and Ms Janet Frimpong, Chairman and Clerk respectively of the committee, that in order for a polytechnic to qualify for the conversion, it had to meet certain criteria including institutional standing, academic staff requirements, and evidence of collaboration with industry and employers in the delivery of accredited programmes, which all selected polytechnics met.
The committee noted that the remaining four polytechnics that did not meet the requirements were being assisted by the government to get to that standard in order to make their conversion possible.
The conversion forms an integral part of President Mahama’s government’s agenda to transform the socio-economic fortunes of the country. Earlier this year, he had said current demands of the job market, especially by businesses and industries, required technical and skilled personnel, and no longer education by grammar and rote.
According to the committee, during its deliberations on the conversion bill, “the issue of appropriate designation for the head of a technical university came up strongly. The committee was of the view that since almost all heads of traditional public universities were referred to as ‘vice chancellors,’ it is appropriate to adopt the same title for the heads of the technical universities. This, the committee observed, was fundamental to rebranding and improving public image about technical universities and putting them on a parity of esteem with the traditional public universities.
“However, the Ministry [of Education] strongly opined that the title ‘rector’ should be maintained as a mark of differentiation between traditional universities and technical universities, which have their orientation largely grounded on vocational skills and development and the application of science and technology. In this regard, it is important to maintain the nomenclature ‘rector’ to give technical universities this unique identity.”
Source: Ghana/ClassFMonline.com/91.3FM
