Bolgatanga Polytechnic appeals for support to meet conversion criteria
The Rector of the Bolgatanga Polytechnic, Dr Mba Atinga, has appealed to the government to support the institution to meet the criteria for it to be converted into a technical university.
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"By far our infrastructure deficit is the biggest challenge and sadly, despite our will and best intentions, we cannot close the gap by ourselves. Our most critical needs are well-equipped laboratories and a lecture theatre complex. We would also require an auditorium and many more,"he said.
Dr Atinga made the appeal during the fifth congregation of the polytechnic at which Higher National Diplomas were awarded to 876 students of the 2014 and 2015 year groups.
Management’s efforts
He said the management of the polytechnic, for its part, was working assiduously to put in place some of the infrastructure, academic programmes and human requirements needed for the conversion.
The polytechnic, he said, would introduce additional Bachelor of Technology programmes in Civil Engineering, Ecological Agriculture, Hotel Catering, Institutional Management and Procurement and Logistics Management and also strengthen its linkage with industry in the 2016/2017 academic year, to enable it to meet the requirements for conversion into a technical university.
Government’s support
The rector said the government, the Ministry of Education and the National Council for Higher Education had assured them of the support needed to upgrade their infrastructure and laboratories.
"Indeed the President said on April 4, 2016 that the polytechnics which would not be immediately converted would get fast-track infrastructure and faculty development. This year we got the highest allocation from GETFund for our infrastructural development, nearly a 200 per cent increase. We hope that this is the first sign of things to come."
Dr Atinga advised the graduands to avoid easy options in life and not be in a hurry to acquire material things that others had spent their lifetime acquiring.
"You may experience frustrations in achieving some of your goals but that is the nature of life. Never give up on your goals and dreams. If you knock on one door and it doesn't open, knock again or try another door. Knock till your knuckles bleed, eventually the doors will open,"he advised.
Dwindling funds
The Chairman of the Governing Council of the polytechnic, Ambassador Donald Adabre Adabere, said the institution was faced with dwindling internally generated funds, occasioned by dwindling student numbers.
He said apart from the worsening graduate unemployment that affected intake, some polytechnics also found it difficult to introduce new programmes because of restrictions imposed by regulatory bodies.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), Dr Charles Abugre, who was the guest of honour, said SADA and the Bolgatanga Polytechnic could come into a partnership to commission research of joint interest to solve practical problems and present sustainable solutions for developing the agricultural and agri-business, tourism, manufacturing and housing potentials in the zone.
Students who distinguished themselves in their various fields of studies were awarded with citations, mementos and cash.