According to him, government was being cautious because, it did not want the situation whereby the opportunity would be granted and the polytechnics began to behave like universities that were established to run certain academic programmes but later on decided to digress into other areas of learning, thereby defeating the purpose for which they were established.
Mr. Ayariga said this when he addressed the 2nd National Research Conference of Polytechnics in Ghana in Tamale which brought together all rectors of the ten polytechnics across the country.
Under the theme: “Harnessing Polytechnic Skills and Competences for National Development”, the three-day conference was aimed to bring to light the achievements of the polytechnics in Ghana in the areas of research relating to the engineering and sciences to business and applied arts.
It was also intended to bring together management, staff and students from all the ten polytechnics in Ghana to share the outcomes of their research and products of best practices within their workshops, studios and laboratories.
While lauding the feats chalked by the polytechnics, the Deputy Minister for Education also called on the polytechnics to endeavour to devise strategies that would make it possible for other stakeholders particularly industry or the private sector, make use of their research work in order to promote development in the country.
Mr. Mahama Ayariga pledged that he would rather personally support the introduction of degree programmes in the area of technical and vocational courses in addition to the science courses that are already in place and not for all other programmes.
The Chairman of the Conference of Rectors of Polytechnics (CORP) Reverend Professor Daniel A. Nyarko admitted, that in recent times polytechnics had been severely criticized that they were deviating from their core mandate of providing training for the middle-level manpower requirements of the nation.
This assertion, he said, tends to overlook the full potentials of the polytechnics as tertiary institutions, adding that, it rather seems to suggest that polytechnics were running courses that were either not approved or were outside their mandate. “In all humility, I wish to state that this is not the case. The polytechnics are running programs or courses that are approved by the regulatory authourities” he declared.
Rev. Prof. Nyarko who is also the Rector of the Accra Polytechnic indicated that polytechnics were empowered by law to award Higher National Diplomas (HNDs), Diplomas, Certificates and Degrees, arguing that polytechnics were not established and confined to providing training only at HND level.
The Chairman of CORP reiterated calls to make polytechnics in Ghana degree awarding institutions because international best practices gave that indication. “Other polytechnics in Europe and elsewhere have expanded their scope beyond the classical diploma programmes and have all become universities offering programmes up to doctoral level. That is what polytechnics in Ghana should be encouraged and resourced to do. The advantage is that it will offer an alternative avenue for higher education, especially for the technical and vocational graduates”, he preached.
Meanwhile he appealed to individuals and corporate bodies to offer support or enter into partnerships with the polytechnics to research and develop new products or commercialise current ones.
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