Two Different Year Groups Graduate From Bolga Polytechnic

The Bolgatanga Polytechnic in the Upper East Region has graduated a total of 920 students who completed their respective courses in 2016 and 2017.

At the institution's sixth congregation held on Saturday in Bolgatanga, the Bachelor of Technology degrees were conferred on 869 students while 58 students were awarded the Higher National Diploma in various programmes.

Speaking at the congregation, Professor Samuel A. Alnaa, the Acting Rector of the Bolgatanga Polytechnic, urged the graduates to make an impact where ever they found themselves.

He said hard work, perseverance and dedication were virtues of success and urged them not to get frustrated over the difficulties in the society but to be innovative and rather use their entrepreneurial skills and training to face the difficulties.

"For you to succeed in life you must remain disciplined and avoid short-cuts for they are dangerous. Also, stay away from bad deeds and corruption and strive for excellence and integrity in every task ", he said.

While commending government for the construction of a three-storey hostel facility which would house about 212 students and one storey bungalow for staff to ease the infrastructure burden of the school, Professor Alnaa said the enrolment number was expected to increase within the next three years as a result of the implementation of the Free Senior High School policy.

The Acting Rector said fifteen new programmes in both bachelor degrees and Higher National Diploma would be introduced in the 2018/2019 academic year, while eight of the programmes have been submitted to the National Accreditation Board through the National Council for Tertiary Education for approval.

He said the institution is facing staffing challenges as those who have gone on retirement since 2013 had not been replaced and appealed to the government to approve the request for employment clearance to replace the departed staff.

Professor Francis Atindaana Abantanga, the Chairman of the Government Council of the Bolgatanga Polytechnic, said the polytechnic is prepared to be converted to a technical university and urged government to provide the necessary logistics to speed up the conversion.

He urged the staff to upgrade themselves in readiness for the conversion.

Professor Abantanga called on government to settle all electricity debts of the technical universities and polytechnics to ensure continuous supply of power to improve teaching and learning.

GNA
By Anthony Apubeo, GNA