The Technical Universities Bill was passed into law on Wednesday when the Deputy Education Minister, Alex Kyeremeh, moved the motion for the third reading.
What this means
1. The Law will enable the Accra, Kumasi, Koforidua, Ho, Takoradi and Sunyani polytechnics to be converted into technical universities.
2. The selected schools to be converted will now be operating under the technical university system and will also have the power to offer various degree programmes starting September.
3. Chief Administrators of the polytechnics, who were previously known as Rectors, will now be referred to as Vice Chancellors.
4. The technical universities will be in charge of industrial human resource training for the country, with their main aim being not to deviate from what makes them unique from the mainstream universities.
Background
Some educationists, including the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ernest Aryeetey, have already rejected the president’s decision to convert some polytechnics into technical universities.
Many have argued that polytechnics and universities were established for different purposes, and hence government must find ways to maximise the potentials of both.
They are also of the opinion that government must provide the necessary infrastructure for the polytechnics before deciding to convert them into technical universities.
Two polytechnics - Takoradi polytechnic and Sunyani polytechnic - have so far been converted into technical universities.
Four other polytechnics have been selected for conversion across the country.
They include Accra, Kumasi, Koforidua, and Ho polytechnics.