Constitute technical universities’ councils - POTAG urges
The Teachers of Technical Universities and Polytechnics in Ghana (POTAG) has accused the National Council of Tertiary Education (NCTE) of usurping the powers of the Councils of the Technical Universities.
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"After the conversion of the polytechnics to technical universities, Act 922 vested the running of these institutions in the hands of the various university councils but in what looks like a display of power, the NCTE, through its Executive Secretary, is acting ultra vires and usurping the functions of these councils," it alleged at a press conference in Takoradi Tuesday.
The President of POTAG, Mr Emmanuel Agyemang, who addressed the press conference, alleged that the NCTE had dissolved all the councils without constituting another to see to the smooth transition of the various institutions.
Citing Section 42 (6) of the Act, he further stated that the council in violation of that provision, had written to all key officers of the various technical universities, making them interim officers, pending new advertisement and appointments.
That function, he said, was not in their power to do, stating that Act 922 gave that authority to the Councils of the various technical universities (TUs), which they had deliberately delayed in constituting.
According to Mr Agyemang, the NCTE has also violated Section 26 (a) of Act 922 by drafting what they called "Harmonised statutes, conditions of service and scheme of service" for all the TUs, explaining that the Act per section 27, clearly prescribed how statutes should be enacted.
Hidden agenda
"The association observes and believes same to be true that the NCTE has a hidden agenda and hence has resorted to a deliberate feet-dragging strategy to frustrate the transition process and destroy the very fine idea of the TUs introduced by the previous government," Mr Agyemang alleged.
He, therefore, demanded the immediate reconstitution of the governing councils of the TUs and polytechnics by the government to enable them to champion their smooth transition as mandated by the TUs Act, 2016.
The members also called on the government to convert the remaining two polytechnics, Bolgatanga and Wa, to universities by putting the necessary measures in place to make it practicable.
Support
"POTAG would also like to express its displeasure of the seeming tacit support for the NCTE by the Minister of Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, for the flagrant disregard for the TUs Act in all these matters,” Mr Agyemang indicated.
He explained that the minister had never sought the view of members as stakeholders in all those matters which made his views on the matter skewed in support of the NCTE.
"All attempts by POTAG to meet the minister have never materialised as he seems to be avoiding us. His outfit keeps on rescheduling meeting appointments but has time to meet NCTE any time they called on him," the members alleged.
Book and research allowance
The president indicated, “POTAG is calling on the government to expedite action on the payment of the book and research allowances (BRA) for the 2016/2017 academic year which payment is long overdue.”