TECHNICAL UNIVERSITIES URGED TO OFFER PRACTICAL-ORIENTED TEACHING

Inauguration of Technical Universities in Ghana.

Technical universities have been urged to be different from the traditional universities in terms of offering practical oriented teaching.

The minister of Education Prof. Opoku-Agyeman stressed that when the technical universities were up and running, “we expect the differences between them and the traditional universities to be manifestly clear.”

She made this known at the inauguration of eight technical universities in Ghana. They are Cape Coast Technical University; Takoradi Technical University; Suyani Technical University; Kumasi Technical University; Koforidua Technical University; Tamale Technical University; Accra Technical University; and Ho Technical University.

She hinted that the success or otherwise of the entire endeavour would hinge on how successfully the transition was handled.

Prof. Opoku-Agyeman explained that the inauguration became possible by the passage of the Technical Universities Act, 2016 (Act 922) by Parliament, which was given Presidential assent on August 31, 2016.

She said with the law in place, it was left with the actual process and steps of transforming the institutional set-up and governance systems of the polytechnics to reflect the attributes of the envisaged technical universities.

Prof. Opoku-Agyeman observed that the traditional universities in the country continued to be mainly knowledge-driven, focusing on fundamental research and graduate studies and keeping a more disciplined approach to learning and promotion.

“You are here to fulfil a fundamentally different mission from those of our traditional universities, somehow bogged down by history and practice,” she said.

The Executive Secretary of the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE), Prof. Mohammed Salifu, who outlined the transitional steps and arrangements for implementation, explained that the governing councils for the polytechnics designated as technical universities had, with immediate effect, become interim councils of the respective technical universities.

He said harmonised statutes and scheme of service for technical universities were being developed by a committee chaired by the NCTE, with representation from the Conference of Rectors of Polytechnics in Ghana (CORP).

He added that as part of the transitional steps, the technical universities were directed to develop programmes only in the core mandated area, adding that all existing programmes were to be vetted for their skills content.

The Council Chair of the NCTE, Prof. Clifford Nii Boi Tagoe, recalled what the NCTE had done in the cause of the transition and was grateful to the Ministry of Education and the team for their continuous support.

The CORP Chairman, Prof. Abdulai Salifu Asuro, stated that the decision to convert the polytechnics into technical universities was never a mistake and that CORP believed it would materialise.

Credit ( MOE)

CAPE COAST POLYTECHNIC UPGRADED TO TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

 By: Kwamina Bamfo-Agyei

According to the statement signed by the Minister of Education Prof. Nana Jane Opoku Agyemang has revealed that the government has given executive approval  for Cape Coast  and Tamale Polytechnics to be upgraded to technical universities.

Prof. Opoku Agyemang directed the National Council for Tertiary Education to communicate the executive approval to both polytechnics and take necessary steps to ensure a smooth and orderly transfer of all the eight polytechnics that have been upgraded.

Infulfilment of government's pledged to upgrade Polytechnics to degree awarding Technical Institutions, the Technical Universities Act 2016 (Act 922) has been enacted by Parliament.

Earlier when the expert pannel carried out their assessment Cape Coast was not selected due to Governance structure because at the time most of the principal positions except the rector position were occupied in acting capacity. The Ministry of Finance gave a clearance for the institution to employ, hence principal officers have been employed.

The eight Technical universities are Koforidua Technical University; Technical University of Kumasi,Takoradi Technical University, Suyani Technical University, Ho Technical University, Accra Technical University, Cape Coast Technical University, and Tamale Technical University.

For the past eight years the institution has been offering the following programme Bachelor of Technology in Accounting with Computing; Bachelor of Technology in Building Technology; and Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering.

Prof. Lawrence Atepor (Founding Vice Chancellor)

This academic year the following programme will begin,  Bachelor in Electrical and Electronics Engineering; Bachelor of Statistics; Bachelor in Management Studies; Bachelor in Marketing; Bachelor of Purchasing and Supply; Master of Technology in Civil Engineering; Master of Technology in Construction Technology.

Students and staffs of the institution are excited when the heard the news that their school has been upgraded. The students and staffs expressed their gratitude to the Founding Vice Chancellor Prof. Lawrence Atepor and the Governing Council for their leadership style and landmark achievements.

June 20 2016 edition of Central Press we published that "The  Deputy Minister of Education in-charge of Tertiary Hon. Samuel Okudjato Ablakwa  has disclosed that the second assessment report on Cape Coast Polytechnic as technical university is ready and the Minister of Education will make a pronouncement very soon of which Cape Coast will be happy."

It will also be recalled that at a stakeholders’ forum on January 6, 2015, participants unanimously agreed  that the conversion should not be done for all polytechnics at a go, but in phases, based on an assessment of each polytechnic. - See more at: http://citifmonline.com/2016/02/24/6-polytechnics-to-be-converted-to-universities-by-september/#sthash.ivvrFSX2.dpuf

AFRICA STILL STRUGGLING AS EMANCIPATION DAY OBSERVED IN CAPE COAST

By: Kwamina Bamfo-Agyei

Rabbi Kohain Halevi (Executive Secretary PANAFEST Foundation)

Emancipation should be used to remind Africans of the struggle they are going through to free themselves of poverty. 

The Executive Secretary of PANAFEST Foundation Rabbi Kohain Halevi made this known at a symposium organised to observed this year's emancipation day celebration with the theme " Emancipation, Our Heritage, Our Strength; Empowering African Youth through Pan African Culture".

He noted that Africans are still struggling to be united in development and appealed to researchers in Africa to discuss issues affecting the continent. He said "as Africans we need to remain connected and relevant our continue struggle and be liberated as an African people".  

Governor Osun State Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola

In attendance was the Executive Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola gave the keynote address and appealed to Africans to be united among themselves in liberating the continent of poverty. He noted that countries in Africa should collaborate with others in research that will lead to development. Some of the presenters at the symposium included Dr. Hamlet Maulana and Imahkus Okofo.

Emancipation Day is the day set out for the celebration of the emancipation’ of slaves in America, Africa and the Caribbean and that day in the lives of the freed slaves. It is also observed in other areas in remembrance of the abolition of serfdom or other forms of servitude. Ghana joined in the celebration of Emancipation Day in 1998.

At  Assin Praso which is also part of the Slave Corridor, and is home to the Nnonko Nsuo, (otherwise known as the Slave River, where the slaves had their bath before being shipped overseas, which was part of the slave route, took the centre stage with  durbar of chiefs and people at the event. The Reverential Night; a vigil to usher in Emancipation Day was carried out at the Cape Coast Castle where a great many of our ancestors were shipped as human cargo to the Americas and elsewhere to work on plantations as slaves.

W.E.B Du Bois

B&FT Online

According to B&FT (2016) reported that William Edward Burghardt “W. E. B.” Du Bois (1868-1963) was a leading African-American sociologist, writer and activist. Educated at Harvard University and other top schools, Du Bois studied with some of the most important social thinkers of his time. He earned fame for the publication of such works as Souls of Black Folk (1903), and was a founding officer of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and editor of its magazine.

Dubois also taught at Wilberforce University and Atlanta University, and chaired the Peace Information Center. Shortly before his death, Du Bois settled in Ghana to work on the Encyclopedia Africana, a compendium of information on Africans and peoples of African descent throughout the world. Shortly thereafter he joined the American Communist party and became a citizen of Ghana, where he died in 1963.

On Saturday, 30th July, 2016, Assin Praso, which was part of the slave route, will take the centre stage where there will be a durbar of chiefs and people to commemorate the event. On Sunday, 31st July, 2016, there will be a Reverential Night; a vigil to usher in Emancipation Day, at the Cape Coast Castle where a great many of our ancestors were shipped as human cargo to the Americas and elsewhere to work on plantations as slaves.
A Grand Durbar of chiefs and people will be held at Assin-Manso, which is also part of the Slave Corridor, and is home to the Nnonko Nsuo, (otherwise known as the Slave River, where the slaves had their bath before being shipped overseas, on 1st August 2016 to climax the celebration.
Emancipation Day is celebrated in many former British colonies in the Caribbean and some areas of the United States to commemorate the emancipation of slaves of African descent. It is also observed in other areas in remembrance of the abolition of serfdom or other forms of servitude. Ghana joined in the celebration of Emancipation Day in 1998.
W.E.B Du Bois
William Edward Burghardt “W. E. B.” Du Bois (1868-1963) was was a leading African-American sociologist, writer and activist. Educated at Harvard University and other top schools, Du Bois studied with some of the most important social thinkers of his time. He earned fame for the publication of such works as Souls of Black Folk (1903), and was a founding officer of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and editor of its magazine.
Dubois also taught at Wilberforce University and Atlanta University, and chaired the Peace Information Center. Shortly before his death, Du Bois settled in Ghana to work on the Encyclopedia Africana, a compendium of information on Africans and peoples of African descent throughout the world. Shortly thereafter he joined the American Communist party and became a citizen of Ghana, where he died in 1963.
- See more at: http://thebftonline.com/business/tourism/20194/emancipation-day-2016-starts-today.html#sthash.Q7qaHFm1.dpuf

CAPE COAST TO BE HAPPY AFTER HEARING TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY'S ASSESSMENT REPORT

By: Kwamina Bamfo-Agyei

 

The  Deputy Minister of Education in-charge of Tertiary Hon. Samuel Okudjato Ablakwa  has disclosed that the second assessment report on Cape Coast Polytechnic as technical university is ready and the Minister of Education will make a pronouncement very soon of which Cape Coast will be happy.

 

Cape Coast Polytechnic was not mentioned as part of the first phase of six polytechnic to be converted when the President of Ghana John Dramani Mahama disclosed this in Parliament early this year.

According to the Ablakwa Cape Coast scored high marks in infrastructure but low marks in governance issue and laboratories. He was addressing residents of Cape Coast on the Accounting to the people programme.

 

According to his tone of voice he was optimistic that Cape Coast will be among the polytechnics to be converted to technical University although he indicated that his minister will make known the outcome of the report to the public.

 

He said conversion of polytechnics to universities should not be political but must go through academic process for the institutions to be recognized outside Ghana hence it is not prudent for the Presidential candidate of New Patriotic Party Nana Addo Akuffo - Addo to promise the people of Ghana that when giving the nod to be a President he will convert all polytechnics to universities.

 

 President  Mahama during the inauguration of Takoradi Polytechnic as a technical university  indicated that technical universities would form an integral part in transforming the socio-economic fortunes of the country, saying the country could be transformed with the skills and knowledge of its human resources.

 

He stated that the demand of the job market today, especially by businesses and industries, required technical and skilled personnel, and no longer the book-long and grammar type of education.

 

President Mahama observed that the economic strength of a country is inextricably linked to the skills and competences of its workforce for optimum development which were in abundant supply in technical universities.