Conversion Of Polytechnics’ To Technical Universities And Matters Arising

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Ghana National Union of Polytechnic Students (GNUPS) has realized and followed events of the concerns and agitations of the groups and parties associated with the issues of conversion of the Polytechnics to Technical Universities on the Cape Coast and Tamale Polytechnic campuses.

This was started with a statement by the Coalition of Central Region Youth groups and Alumni of the Cape Coast Polytechnic which described the processes in the selection of Polytechnics ready for conversion as one borne out of tribalism and segregation with Ho Polytechnic as a case and further made appeals to eminent personalities and officials in Government from the Central Region to intervene and ensure the inclusion of Cape Coast Polytechnic in the first phase of the conversion. And the most recent being calls from the Tamale Polytechnic Chapter of the Polytechnic Teachers Association of Ghana (POTAG).

We wish to state that, there might be merit in these calls, but needs to be channeled through the right processes so as not to derail the efforts of this all-important national policy. The challenges that the conversion seeks to solve are very much enormous and should not be interrupted by our own selves. Wetake cognizance of the fact that dialogue instead of agitations will give us the desired results especially at this very important stage of climaxing the technical preparations towards the conversion of our polytechnicsand as such, we are by this statement therefore calling on;

1. All especially the polytechnic fraternity to desist from introducing and attaching tribal and political twists to the processes and procedures of converting the Polytechnics to Technical Universities

2. The agitating groups to calm down and resort to the relevant procedures in resolving the current impasse

3. The Ministry of Education, the National Council for Tertiary Education and the Expert Panel to come out clear on the processes leading to the declaration of the institutions listed for the various phases with specific information and details obtained after the assessment of the Polytechnics to clear all perceptions of the general public and ensure adequate transparency in the process of the conversion.

Leadership of the Union also wish to admonish ourstudents to stay away from taking side on the matter lest we risk betraying our long preserved solidarity and consolidated gains. We also call on all to remain calm and trust that the leadership is fully on guard to ensure that the current challenges are given lasting solutions. We will update all members of the Union on any subsequent development on the subject matter.

Thank you
LONG LIVE GNUPS
LONG LIVE GHANA
SIGNED
JOSHUA TETTEH ELVIS OSEI AMPONSAH
COORDINATING SECRETARY PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
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