Review NABPTEX Law - Apori

Page 43: January 10, 2008
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Chairman of the Conference of Polytechnic Rectors, Dr Samuel Obeng Apori, has called for a review of the National Board for Technician and Professional Examinations (NABPTEX) Law to enable the polytechnics to operate as full autonomous bodies.
He said although the Polytechnics Act (Act 745) accorded polytechnics full autonomy as tertiary institutions which ran and awarded their own degree programmes, the non-review of the NABPTEX Law (PNDCL 321) posed legal technicalities which might infringe upon the ability of the polytechnics to operate as full autonomous bodies.
The NABPTEX, he said, was set up to supervise curriculum development, implementation and monitoring, as well as to be in charge of examinations and the award of diplomas to students upon completion of their studies.
Dr Apori, who was speaking on, “Polytechnic Education in Ghana: Challenges and Prospects”, at the 59th Annual New Year School in Accra yesterday, said the review was necessary, since the polytechnics were now responsible for their own curriculum development and award of certificates.
The New Year School, which is on the theme, “Tertiary Education and National Development”, is being organised by the Institute of Adult Education (IAE) of the University of Ghana, Legon.
He said whatever restrictions were imposed on the polytechnics by PNDCL Law 321 had been technically removed and they could now operate as other fully-fledged tertiary institutions in Ghana, with the capacity to mount their own programmes at certificate, diploma, bachelors, masters, doctoral and even post-doctoral levels, once they met the requirements set by the National Accreditation Board (NAB) for tertiary institutions in the country.
He said NABPTEX might be given the role to co-ordinate the relationship between the polytechnics and the various relevant professional bodies.
Dr Apori said with the new law, which allowed the polytechnics to run degree programmes, students who chose to pursue those programmes had the opportunity to progress in their studies to the highest level, stressing that “technical and vocational education and training (TVET) will become more attractive to students”.
With that development, he said, the negative perception of polytechnic graduates as being inferior to traditional universities graduates would be removed.
He said it would also prevent polytechnic graduates from abandoning their training to enrol in universities to pursue general degree courses.
Dr Apori said polytechnic education offered a correct mix of theory and practice in the training of students, explaining that while education in the country appeared to be shifted to the two extremes of theory and practice, polytechnic education sought to combine the two types of training.
He also called for greater collaboration between the country’s polytechnics and industries to help achieve the purpose for which the polytechnics were established.
He said apart from providing avenues for industrial attachment for polytechnic students, industry could consult the relevant departments in the polytechnics with their problems, for which the polytechnics could provide consultancy based on empirical research.
According to him, the collaboration between the polytechnics and industry needed to be extended to the areas of curriculum development, delivery and assessment.
Dr Apori also suggested the provision of micro-credit support for polytechnic graduates to engage in self-employment ventures.