Ho, May 17, GNA - Mr Gabriel Kploanyi, the Volta Regional Director of Education, has appealed to the government to provide the enabling "legal and socio-economic environment" to ensure that polytechnic graduates become self-employed.

"We have to give our students the skills to employ themselves after school because of the ever-growing number of graduates who remain unemployed after school," he said.

Mr Kploanyi, who was speaking at the launch of the Students Representative Council Week, said an enabling environment for self employment among graduates had become necessary for effective socio-economic development.

Mr Kploanyi said the government's fiscal policy should ensure that low interest credits were available to graduates ready to start their own businesses.

He said polytechnic students have important roles to play in re-positioning Polytechnic education towards effective socio-economic development and urged students to be disciplined, decent and respect authority.

Mr Kploanyi told them to see self-employment as a viable alternative and equip themselves with knowledge and skills to be self-reliant. "It is time students begin to dream their own companies, form business partnerships and start planning the execution of same", he said.

Mr Kploanyi urged Polytechnics to take advantage of the oil and gas industry and prepare their students to venture into its related ventures.

Mr Joseph Amenowode, Volta Regional Minister, urged polytechnic students to equip themselves with practical knowledge and skills to work in the middle level manpower positions.

He advised them to shun occultism, cyber fraud and drug abuse and be focused on their studies to become responsible future leaders.

Mr Eric Komla Tsitsia, SRC President of Ho Polytechnic, said sections of the public continued to denigrate students from polytechnics and called on the government and the media to help halt that practice.