Upgrading Polytechnics To Technical Universities: Prof. Asuro Concern About Process

Prof. Abdulai Salifu Asuro

THE Rector of Tamale Polytechnic Professor Abdulai Salifu Asuro has expressed concern over the non-involvement of some key stakeholders in the ongoing process of upgrading Ghanaian Polytechnics to Technical Universities.

Though he lauded the initiative by government describing it as “a step in the right direction”, Prof. Asuro reiterated a greater involvement of all polytechnics in the ongoing conversation. Certain key decisions involving the conversion of polytechnics to technical universities, he said, were being taken before the rectors, and polytechnic community were asked to contribute.

“........it is not to the blind side of everyone here that, similar well-thought out ideas have failed not for the lack of funds but because the target beneficiaries had not been adequately consulted or involved in the implementation process of such projects”, Prof. Asuro made these statements at the 9^th congregation of the Tamale Polytechnic held at the school’s premises.

Prof. Asuro therefore, appealed to government to give polytechnics more representation on teams and committees working on the conversion of polytechnics into technical universities so as to ensure the achievement of good outcomes.

A total of one thousand five hundred and sixty (1,560) graduates from the School of Engineering, School of Applied Sciences and School of Business and Management Studies who completed their programme of study in 2014 were awarded Higher National Diploma Certificates.

These graduates included those who read accountancy, marketing, agricultural engineering, mechanical engineering, secretary ship and management, statistics, hotel, catering and institutional management, building technology as well as industrial arts. 16 graduates had First Class, 305 Second Class Upper, 986 Second Class Lower, 184 Pass and 69 Competent.

A section of Graduates at Congregation

Prof. Asuro also announced the readiness of the Tamale Polytechnic to introduce four degree programmes in the 2015/2016 academic year. He mentioned Bachelor of Technology in Hotel, Catering and Tourism Management, Bachelor of Technology in Agricultural Engineering, Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering and Bachelor of Technology in Management.

These programmes, according to him, would bring the total number of new programmes to six including two which were introduced in the 2014/2015 academic year – HND Fashion, Modelling and Design and Bachelor of Technology in Accounting with Computing.

Prof. Mahama Duwiejua who represented the Minister for Education, noted that government’s decision to upgrade the country’s polytechnics to technical universities was still on course, and that it was ready to incorporate the concerns of all stakeholders before any final decisions were taken.

Chairman of the Tamale Polytechnic Governing Council Ambassador Alhaji Abdullah Salifu also made a passionate appeal to Ghana Education Trust Fund to allocate more funds to the institution to enable it complete projects it initiated few years ago.

He emphasised that, the completion of such projects including a machine shop, market platform, construction of a fence wall, entrance gates, renovation of classroom block and a staff bungalow.