Government committed to conversion of polytechnics — Ablakwa
A Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary Education, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has emphasised that the government remains committed to implementing the initiative to convert polytechnics to technical universities in a “scientific, objective and transparent manner”.
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He said in an effort to upgrade the polytechnics in readiness to be converted into technical universities, the Attorney-General’s Department had concluded work on the Technical University Bill to be sent to the Cabinet, and then to Parliament.
Speaking at the 12th congregation of the Koforidua Polytechnic, Mr Ablakwah described as false the allegations that he personally “smuggled in” the Ho Polytechnic to be among the first polytechnics qualified to be converted into a technical university.
Malicious accusations
He said issues with education and the conversion of polytechnics were not based on “individual preferences and consideration to home towns” and, therefore, described accusations against him as “malicious and wicked that must be ignored”.
The event saw the graduation of 1,896 students who had pursued a three-year Higher National Diploma (HND) programme, with Mr Martin Baidoo emerging the best HND student.
In addition, 200 artisanal students from the informal sector who underwent training in customer care, management of small business, book-keeping and strategic management, also passed out.
Mr Ablakwah said when the President articulated the vision to convert polytechnics into technical universities and centres of excellence to provide hands-on, skill-oriented, practical, technical and engineering education, he tasked the Ministry of Education (MoE) to execute the programme.
Independent committee
He said the ministry brought on board the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) and the National Accreditation Board (NAB) to discuss the issue, after which they decided to set up an independent committee made up of experts to implement the vision.
He said a technical committee, chaired by Dr George Apeki, a well-respected educationist and leader of the Commonwealth Polytechnics, was established and tasked to consider whether the vision was viable.
He stated that after the committee had done its work, Dr Apeki submitted the report, which was accepted.
Further to this he said on January 8, 2016, the report was subjected to a stakeholder validation process involving the Conference of Rectors of Polytechnics, Vice Chancellors of Ghana, Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG), Tertiary Education Workers Union (TEWU), and the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), among others.
No wholesale conversion
He stated that after the stakeholders agreed to move on with the vision, they decided to set up another independent expert panel to assess the polytechnics and recommend to the NCTE which polytechnics should make it, in terms of those that were finally recommended for conversion.
“One of the key requirements from the technical work the committee carried out was that, the conversion should not be on wholesale basis, but should be done after assessment and on a gradual basis.
“The panel visited all the 10 polytechnics and inspected them based on 16-point criteria from governance, programmes, faculty, equipment, infrastructure and standards after which the panel recommended to the NCTE the polytechnics which, in their estimation, met the established criteria,” he explained.
Gender mainstreaming
In her remarks, the Rector of the Koforidua Polytechnic, Prof. Mrs Smile Gavua Dzisi, said while the institution continued to roll out more programmes in science and engineering in fulfilment of its mandate, it had not been able to attract many young women to pursue those disciplines.
“We have, therefore, set up gender mainstreaming desks and designed policies and programmes by which we shall dramatically improve female enrolment in these male-dominated disciplines through mentoring, counselling and outreach,” she said.