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Polytechnics in the country have been given the legal clearance to be converted to technical universities following the passage of the Technical Universities Bill 2016 by Parliament on Wednesday.

For a polytechnic to qualify for conversion to a technical university, it has to meet a set of eligibility criteria, including  institutional standing, academic staff requirements and evidence of collaboration with industry and employers in the delivery of accredited programmes.

A committee set up to consider the standings of the 10 polytechnics in the country has indicated that the Accra, Ho, Koforidua, Kumasi, Sunyani and Takoradi polytechnics meet the criteria.

The idea to convert polytechnics to technical universities was championed by the government, led by President John Dramani Mahama.

The bill was laid in Parliament on June 7, 2016 and the Speaker referred it to the Committee on Education for consideration and report.

Committee's report

Presenting the report of the Committee on Education, its Chairman, Mr Mathias Puozaa, said the technical universities, as higher educational institutions, would be dedicated to the development of high-level technical skills, with a clear route for the academic and professional progression of graduates from senior high schools, technical institutes and persons willing to upgrade their technical and business skills.

That arrangement, he said, would provide opportunities for such category of students and others who, hitherto, had limited opportunities to pursue higher education in the traditional universities, acquire degrees and other qualifications relating to their fields of study.

"The technical universities concept will undoubtedly enhance the image of the converted polytechnics as vocationally oriented and industry-focused universities and thus improve the attractiveness of technical and vocational education and training," he said.

He said it was crucial to institute measures to ensure that the technical universities did not fall into the trap of offering pure academic programmes.

He said available statistics showed that more than 60 per cent of polytechnic students were enrolled in business and management programmes, in spite of the fact that the majority of programmes should relate to the field of Science and Technology.

To address that, he said, the committee was urging the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) to ensure that "the technical universities stay focused on their mandate of training highly skilled technical and vocational human resource".

MPs’ contention

During the last debate on the bill, the Minority in Parliament raised some concerns over the government's decision to convert polytechnics to technical universities.

They argued that the polytechnics were meant to train the middle-level manpower of the country and that the conversion  might defeat that purpose if care was not taken.

Again, the Minority MPs said the conversion should not only be about changing of name or rebranding but rather the offering of higher education in Science and Technology-based courses.

However, the Majority said the conversion was to enhance the capacity of polytechnics to run higher Engineering, Science and Technology related courses.

They said the technical universities would churn out graduates to meet the requirements of industry.

source: graphiconline.com