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15.05.2008 General News

Check Authenticity Of Certificates - NABPTEX

15.05.2008 LISTEN
By Lawrence Markwei - newtimesonline.com

The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Professional and Technician Examinations (NABPTEX), Ben Antwi-Boasiako, has suggested to private tertiary institutions to consult examination bodies which issue certificates to validate the authenticity of certificates submitted by prospective students who seek admission.

This, he said, will curb the increasing rate of fake certificates presented by students to various institutions when seeking admissions.

This has become necessary because current high technological advancement could fake certificates so easily, Mr.Antwi-Bosiako stressed.

He was speaking at an interactive stakeholders meeting held in Accra to map out strategies to bring quality education in tertiary institutions in Ghana.

It was on the theme: All you need to know about NABPTEX within the context of NABPTEX Act 492 .

He said NABPTEX, was established by an Act of Parliament, Act 492, in 1994, as one of the supervisory bodies for tertiary education but limited its operations to only the polytechnics due to logistical reasons.

NABPTEX delayed championing the cause of private tertiary institutions because it needed to organise itself well before expanding its area of operations, Mr Antwi-Boasiako explained.

He acknowledged the important role the private tertiary institutions play in the country’s development goals and said NABPTEX will support them to provide competent skills to our human resource development .

He expressed NABPTEX’s readiness to support tertiary institutions by formulating and administering schemes of examination, evaluation, assessment, certification and standard for private tertiary education which is outside university education.

Professor Mariam Ewurama Addy, NABPTEX board chairperson,who chaired the function, said, NABPTEX is committed to training people to improve upon their professional skills to augment the skill labour capacity in the country .

She said academic and skill training are the key content of any syllabus the board may intend to review with the institutions.

She cited the Institute of Professional Studies as one of the institutions which relied on the NABPTEX expertise to develop its course areas in order to do away with internationally affiliated courses.

Prof. Addy said the vision of NABPTEX is to put true value of what one can do to create a skilled nation adding, Institutions with focus on international affiliation should work in tandem with us to localise some of the international course content .

She advised the private tertiary institutions to eschew the tendency of sacrificing quality service in their quest for monetary gains since quality education and skills training at non-university tertiary institutions is what the nation needs the most .

Mr. Kojo Yankah, president of African University College for Communications, who gave a lecture on the topic, Establishing a private tertiary institution–processes and challenges involved advised those in education business to thoroughly evaluate the role they can play in that sector to enhance education.

He said professional approach is needed since without a good business focus and long term planning such ventures are shortlived .

Mr. Yankah advised those in education business to develop crisis management skills since it could be a potent factor to destabilise any institution.

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