The Bolgatanga and Wa Polytechnics were the only two out of the ten polytechnics who could not be converted into technical universities due to their inability to meet the conversion criteria in 2016.

But speaking at the 6th congregation of the Bolgatanga Polytechnic last Saturday, Prof. Alnaa said, the institution was now ready for conversion.

“It is clear that Bolgatanga Polytechnic is more than ready for conversion into a technical university. We have addressed all the deficiencies that made us miss out in the first assessment in July 2015”.

“We are ready for the team to reassess the Polytechnic for conversion to a technical university, and wish the Minister for Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, could make a pronouncement when the institution will be converted into a technical university….We are therefore making a clarion call to get the Bolgatanga and Wa polytechnics converted into technical universities”, he said.

Prof. Alnaa added that, the school had procured and installed multi-media and engineering equipment and well as laboratory equipment to ensure quality hands-on technical university education.

He blamed the school’s low enrollment figures especially for this year, on the government’s inability to convert it to a technical university.

He appealed to the government to grant it clearance to recruit more teaching and non-teaching staff to replace those who are either dead or retired.

Paying Polytechnics and Technical universities’ electricity bills

The Chairman of the school’s governing council, Professor Francis Atindaana Abantanga, made a passionate appeal to the government to settle all indebtedness of Polytechnics and Technical Universities to the electricity companies to avert any possible disconnections.

“I am reliably informed that these bills are very huge, and ECG in particular, has disconnected Bolgatanga Polytechnic a number of times this year, and threatened to install prepaid meters on their two campuses.

“Settling our indebtedness in full will go a long way to improve the relationship between these institutions and companies, and also enhance teaching and learning in the Polytechnic” Prof. Abantanga stated.

In all, a total of 927 graduated in various disciplines of study from the 2016 and 2017 cohorts comprising 869  with Higher National Diploma and 58 with Bachelor of Technology degrees.

The school will also be introducing 10 new  Higher National Diploma and 5 Bachelor of Technology programmes for the 2018/2019 academic year.

–

By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Bolgatanga Poly ready for conversion to Technical University – Ag. Rector appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

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.

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Technical University students threaten gov’t over non-existent Governing Councils appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the Association, the NCTE is usurping the powers of University Councils, and acting arbitrarily to run the various Technical Universities.

[contextly_sidebar id=”1PEDIcSY3byXlSCgqz9zSyKbpGloCGJ0″]It said the development has caused some unrest among the various teacher unions within the Polytechnics and Technical Universities.

In a statement copied to citifmonline.com, the Association also accused the Minister of Education, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, of conniving with the NCTE to violate the Provisions of the Technical Universities Act, 2016 (Act 922), which called for a constitution of a University council to run the various Technical Universities for one year.

It said the various Councils have since been dissolved by the NCTE and the Minister to enable the NCTE exert authority over the Technical Universities.

“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 Technical University introduced by the previous Government. ..The Association also believes that the deliberate feet-dragging is a Machiavellian tactic of the NCTE being employed in the Transitional arrangements to secure the ambition of some of their top Management and cronies from the Traditional Universities to take up key positions in the newly converted Technical Universities. POTAG views these acts as diabolical and shall resist them vehemently,” the statement said.

It further accused the minister of refusing to grant them an audience to discuss the matter which they say is likely to lead them to hold a massive demonstration to express their resentment.

POTAG has however called on the government to among other things reconstitute the Governing Councils of the Technical Universities and Polytechnics to enable the Technical Universities to operate as effectively as mandated.

It has also called on the government to convert of the two (2) remaining Polytechnics (Bolgatanga and Wa) to Technical University as soon as possible.

It also reminded government to expedite action on the payment of their Book and Research Allowances for the 2016/2017 Academic year which payment they say is long overdue.

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @jnyabor

The post Education Minister sabotaging conversion of Polytechnics – POTAG appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

A statement issued by the Coalition on Wednesday [November 2], said it fears the involvement of the NCTE in the process would affect the governance structure of the new technical universities.

[contextly_sidebar id=”PC9ancCBzBVqIALHpZqyhgB0fsQ2G0St”]Signed by Asiedu Kwasi Kokuro, the convener of the coalition, the statement said “We believe that, the guidance on transitional arrangements for Technical Universities (TUs)  issued by NCTE to Governing Councils Chairmen and Management of the various Technical Universities (TUs), would affect the governance structure in these new Universities.”

“We believe that, the Governing Councils of all the TUs are autonomous and must be allowed to collaborate with the relevant stakeholders like Unions, Academic Board and Management of the TUs  to put into place clear- cut transitional arrangements that would not adversely dislocate the current governance structure existing in the various TUs, it said.

“The NCTE  document issued on transitional arrangements and roadmap for evolving Technical Universities, asserts that, the title of institutional heads had changed from Rector to Vice Chancellor, according to the Technical University Act 2016 (Act 922), and therefore the current institutional heads (Rector, Registrar, Finance Officer and Internal Auditor), should act for one year and subsequently advertisement done for these offices to be filled,” it added.

The Coalition of Concerned Teachers argued that, the NCTE does not have the locus to give direction or guidance on the subject of appointment of Vice Chancellor and other Principal Officers of the Technical University.

It said those were the sole mandate of the respective Governing Councils of the schools.

“Although  the Technical University Act 2016 (Act 922) makes the current Governing Council interim for a period of not more than ONE (1) year, we believe that, the current Governing Councils have the mandate  to ensure that smooth transitional arrangements on governance structure put in place in all the various TUs by working collaboratively with relevant stakeholders in their Universities,” the statement said.

The Coalition therefore called on the NCTE to concern itself with building the capacities of the staff of Technical Universities to enable them function effectively to achieve the expected objective.

“We do sincerely appreciate the key role and effort  played by NCTE in the conversion of some Polytechnics to Technical Universities, enactment of the Technical University Act 2016 (Act 922) , and subsequently developing a road map for transitional arrangements for the  Technical Universities; but we  believe that the governance structure  of the Technical Universities is the core duty of TUs Governing Councils, because they would ensure that statutes are enacted and subsequently necessary appointments  of  Principal Officers made” the statement noted.

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Lecturers warn NCTE against interference in Poly conversion appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.