POTAG vows to resist attempts to denigrate polytechnic education

Mr. Oppong-Peprah

Striking polytechnic lecturers at the Kumasi Polytechnic say they will resist any attempt to denigrate the role of the sector in education and economic development.

The Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG) declared a nationwide strike after stalled negotiations with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) on their market premium as part of their migration unto the new pay policy.

Local Chairman to K-Poly, Edmond Oppong-Peprah told Luv Fm the drive to attract highly qualified staff to meet the new demands for Polytechnic education is being frustrated by what he describes as “inferior treatment” meted out to teachers and students.

The new Polytechnic Act mandates the institutions to offer diploma and degree programmes as pertains in other public universities.

But Mr. Oppong-Peprah observed academic progression within the polytechnic is stifled by the high attrition rate of lecturers.

According to him, some twenty PhD holders at the Kumasi Polytechnic have expressed desire to leave for other tertiary institutions if the current quagmire in the migration of polytechnic teachers unto the SSSS is not adequately resolved.

“If government supervises the gradual breakdown of polytechnics, if government looks on for all PhD holders to leave the polytechnics, then how are we going to mount new programmes? What will be the career progression of our polytechnic students?” he queried.

Mr. Oppong-Peprah has asked government to show enough commitment to polytechnic education and heed to the concerns of the sector if options for return to the negotiation table are to be beneficial.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh/Luv Fm/Ghana