The Bill, which is currently before Parliament, according to the students, seeks to cede the management of the Technical Universities to the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE).

[contextly_sidebar id=”AX1yLEi4WDNvkJmfRW9tBYZiilEY51pC”]The lecturers contend that the bill in its current form undermines the autonomy of technical Universities, a position that the students support.

The students had previously indicated their dissatisfaction with the Bill at a press conference, during which they described the move as an “oppressive and dictatorial management of tertiary institutions.”

The President of the Union, Kamal-Deen Mohammed, in Citi News interview said, “The battle just started because we will never sit down for this to happen. So we are waiting till Tuesday, if they fail to respond, there will be boycotting of lectures and nationwide demonstrations.”

At a previous press conference, Kamal-Deen Mohammed stated that, “Since the conversion of the polytechnics to technical universities in September 2016, these institutions are still running the same programs as they were when they were polytechnics, and have not been given clearance by the National Council for Technical Education (NCTE) to begin offering a straightaway 4-year degree program. This has largely affected the technical universities and is contributing to low patronage by applicants…In spite of the crippling but avoidable challenge affecting technical universities, government intends to worsen the case of these institutions with unnecessary sections in the technical universities (amendment) bill 2017.”

Technical University students on nationwide boycott

In 2017, the Ghana National Union of Technical Students (GNUTS), declared a nationwide boycott of lectures in all technical universities and polytechnics to protest government’s failure to constitute governing councils for the various Technical Universities.

The absence of governing councils had left graduates of 2015/2016 academic year without certificates to apply for jobs or further their education.

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By: Marie-Franz Fordjoe/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Mr Abdul Rahaman Ibrahim, GNUTS Coordinating Secretary said the Bolgatanga and Wa Polytechnics, which are also facing challenges of low intake of students should be converted into technical universities to forestall their collapse.

He explained that following the conversion of some of the nation’s polytechnics into technical universities in September 2016, leaving behind the Bolgatanga and Wa Polytechnics, the two institutions are now experiencing a serious decline in enrollment.

Mr Ibrahim made the appeal at a press conference to outline GNUTS’s grievances to government for redress.

Other GNUTS officials at the meeting included Mohammed Kamaru-Deen, Presideent; Bawa Alhassan, Treasurer; Andrews Obeng Tuwmasi, Public Relatiosn Officer; and Ms Sandra Iddrisu Agoli, Women Commissioner.

The rest are Issah Abdul Somed, Research Officer; Alhassan Abdul Mutalib, GNUTS Ambassador; Ernest Addison, Accra Technical University Students Representative Council (SRC) President; and Ms Selina Assane, Accra Technical University SRC Women Commissioner.

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Source: GNA

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According to the students, attempts to amend sections of the Technical University Act seek to sabotage the effective running of technical universities.

[contextly_sidebar id=”0FBFUqIztyaRZzcTgek9iSz4IFaTvIdz”]Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the National Coordinating Secretary for the union, Abdul Rahman Ibrahim, argued that, technical universities were capable of being autonomous hence must be allowed to operate as such.

“Since the conversion of the polytechnics to technical universities in September 2016, these institutions are still running the same programs as they were when they were polytechnics, and have not been given clearance by the National Council for Technical Education (NCTE) to begin offering a straightaway 4-year degree program. This has largely affected the technical universities and is contributing to low patronage by applicants…In spite of the crippling but avoidable challenge affecting technical universities, government intends to worsen the case of these institutions with unnecessary sections in the technical universities (amendment) bill 2017.”

The students criticized the Education Ministry for championing the cause to cede management of their schools to the NCTE.

They said the Ministry was engaged in acts to promote “oppressive and dictatorial management of tertiary institutions.”

“The proposed amendments, in summary, seeks to take away the autonomy enjoyed by the Technical Universities just as it exists in all other Universities in Ghana. It is beyond reasonable comprehension that the Ministry which is expected to champion and observe best practices in education management has now become the proponent of oppressive and dictatorial management of tertiary institutions.”

While urging the government to reconsider the proposal, the student’s body threatened to stage a protest if the government does not take a positive action on the matter.

TUTAG to strike over NTCE’s attempt to ‘undermine’ technical universities

The Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana (TUTAG), had earlier threatened to embark on strike if some sections of the 2016 Act that establishes Technical universities are amended.

According to the Chairman of the Ho chapter of TUTAG, Albert Laurent Sakabutu, the amendment is going to make it impossible for technical universities to do anything on their own without recourse to the Ministry of Education and the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE).

“We are being told that anything you want to acquire in terms of property you need to seek to approval from the NCTE, this is in clear contravention with the Public Procurement law and the Public Finance Management Act,” he said.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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GNUTS, which happens to be the umbrella student association working in the interest of Technical Students in Technical Universities had assembled delegates to elect its next line of leaders to make way for new executives.

Below is the full statement.

Ho Technical University, Accra Technical University, Cape Coast Technical University And Takoradi Technical University SRCs Officially Part Ways From GNUTS At The 25 Annual Delegates Congress.

Since the existence of Ghana National Union of Technical Students (GNUTS), formally known as GNUPS, about some 25 years ago, the core mandate of the union has been reduced to bullying of ordinary students by those we entrusted power to. GNUTS parted ways with NUGS when students from the polytechnic fraternity suffered several forms of marginalization from the university fraternity.

Years into the future from the separation, GNUTS has not lived to our expectations by defending and protecting the welfare of its students from member institutions. Rather, the union has produced demigods and opportunist who have hijacked the entire union and have refused to allow the systems work, due to their own selfish interest. The union has never been productive in anyway instead depends on monies of poor students without even protecting their rights.

The union is unconcerned about the current challenges facing students such as the 2015/16 year group of students who are yet to graduate from school and have their certificates awarded over a year of completing school.

It is surprising that some alumini are still residing in the unions residence,

The poly fashion concept owned by the ordinary students is also being run by some specific group of alumni as a private venture to the detriment of the union.

GNUTS has failed to offer solidarity, protection and assistance to members in the preservation and enjoyment of their fundamental human rights and in the fulfilment of the aims and objectives of GNUTS as contained in the constitution, congress shall have the right to discontinue the affiliation of any institution to GNUTS. The above named schools, per this statement, seize to be members of GNUTS by officially parting ways from GNUTS since the reason of its existence has been contravened.

Per this release, GNUTS seizes to be the official mouthpiece and the sole representative of Cape Coast Technical University, Ho Technical University, Takoradi Technical University and Accra Technical University at all levels both within and outside the country.

The sovereignty of GNUTS; if it exists at all, it’s not with the four former member institutions named above.

From this day we are on our own and the four schools shall come under one umbrella to protect and defend the welfare of its members. Our new name for now until all documents are made available shall be TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ASSOCIATION OF GHANA.

We shall serve as the voice of the ordinary student at all levels. Per this press statement we are hereby informing the general public, especially students from the member institutions, of our decision which was taken at congress for the benefit and betterment of the plea of technical university students in the country. We shall invite the general public to a press briefing on our next action.

Thanks
God bless technical education
God bless our nation Ghana.
Signed
Interim executives
Prince Addison-0273432022 Src President ATU
RICHARD ARTHUR-0547328405
SRC President CCTU
FREDERICK COBBY MUDDEY-0240648594
SRC President HTU
JAMES AVEVOR-0209131912
SRC President TTU
Samuel effum-.0277633559
IMMEDIATE PAST SRC President CCTU
Prosper Dzikpe…..0553304266
IMMEDIATE PAST SRC PRESIDENT HOTU
Peter Kumordzi….0243514298
IMMEDIATE PAST SRC PRESISENT ATU
Edele kofi Armah….0541699652
IMMEDIATE PAST SRC PRESIDENT TTU
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By: GNA

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According to them, the non-existence of governing councils in the various Technical Universities and Polytechnics is hampering the smooth administration of their schools.

[contextly_sidebar id=”K1T6n557KkqV0bjqCOKYGZkHzIOYJ9ap”]A statement issued by the Ghana National Union of Technical Students and copied to citifmonline.com, said students who had completed their programs of study in 2017, were yet to be awarded their certificates because there was no Council to sign them.

“The Ghana National Union of Technical Students (GNUTS), formerly, Ghana National Union of Polytechnic Students (GNUPS) is utterly disappointed in the failure of the government to put up the governing Councils of the various Technical Universities and Polytechnics in the country.

“The absence of the governing Councils is significantly hampering the smooth operations of these institutions. Students who have successfully completed their programs of study for a year now have no certificates due to the inability of these Institutions to organise graduation ceremonies to award certificates. This, of course, is as result of the absence of a governing Council, which has that mandate,” the statement said.

“The fate of these students remains in limbo whilst authorities sit unconcerned. This is absolutely unacceptable and we demand that the right steps be taken with immediate effect. It is also worthy of note that, a lot of these graduates are on the verge of finishing their national service and get into the world of work,” the statement added.

GNUTS earlier last month petitioned the Ministry of Education and the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), to as a matter of urgency, facilitate the formation of the Governing Councils of the Technical  Universities and Polytechnics, but no action has been taken.

According to GNUTS, the government must act immediately on the matter or it “shall be compelled to advise ourselves.”

Meanwhile, the University of Education is currently in court after it was sued by a private citizen for allowing its Council whose tenure had expired to continue discharging its roles.

According to the plaintiff, it was illegal for the council members to hold themselves as such therefore any decision it has taken is illegal.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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