Polytechnics should not compete with the universities – Tettey-Enyo

Accra, July 2, GNA – Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, Minister of Education, on Thursday jointly inaugurated councils of the country's 10 polytechnics with a call on members to concentrate on the core values establishing such institutions rather than competing with the universities.

The councils, which have a four-year mandate, will among other things provide strategic direction for achieving the educational mission stipulated in the Act establishing the polytechnics.

Mr Tettey-Enyo said the mandate of the polytechnics was to provide opportunities for skills development and applied research for the advancement of industry.

“Polytechnics have a distinctive mandate to provide technical and vocational education at the tertiary level, with emphasis on hands-on training and development of skills needed in industry,” he stressed.

The Minister said in view of this, there was no basis for the polytechnics to compete with the universities adding that the universities generate ideas whilst the polytechnics are expected to practicalise these ideas.

He told the members that polytechnics are autonomous entities but that did not preclude them from accountability and charged them to be efficient and effective in all that they would do.

Professor Joshua Alabi, Chairman for the Accra Polytechnic Council, thanked the President on behalf of members for the appointment and gave the assurance that they would distinguish themselves in their new roles to the satisfaction of all.

GNA