Koforidua, July 28, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor at the weekend assured that the government was highly committed to providing the necessary logistics to advance polytechnic education in the country. He said the government was conscious of the fact that polytechnics were the primary means of developing the talent and skills required for business and industry and would implement interventions to help them to grow.

In an address read for him at the fifth Congregation of Koforidua Polytechnic, President Kufuor said one of the interventions by his government was to increase the polytechnic budget from 31 billion cedis in 2001 to 111.54 billion cedis in 2006, representing an increase of 259 percent.

"A visit to any of the 10 polytechnics and other tertiary institutions will indicate the tremendous transformation of infrastructure that has taken place in recent times". President Kufuor said the recent passage of the Polytechnic Bill attested to government's commitment to polytechnic education and expressed the hope that Polytechnic Councils would use such to their benefit.

He urged the Polytechnic Community, both students and management, to live in harmony and said it was his candid expectation that management would respect and recognize inputs of students in decisions that affect their welfare.

"In a reciprocal manner, our students should also follow laid down rules and regulations in seeking redress of their grievances on issues they deem unpleasant to them".

President Kufuor congratulated the graduands on their achievement and urged them to give meaning to the polytechnic system of education, which he said was a marked departure from the research-based type of education.

"Government on its part has created the enabling environment, which a lot of enterprising young men and women are taking advantage of to create jobs and wealth for themselves and others too".

Professor Sir Kwabena Boakye-Yiadom, Chairman of the Governing Council of the Polytechnic, expressed worry about emerging phenomena in which both senior and junior members at the least opportunity embark on strike actions without exhausting all avenues for redress. He said the task of various Councils would be made lighter if Government and lectures could settle all differences in the Polytechnic system amicably and with mutual trust in order to stem rampant strikes of lectures.

"It is therefore important that both Government and Lecturers handle all pending negotiations for further conditions of service in such a way that we shall not witness any more strikes or threats of strike in the Polytechnics in the days ahead", he said. Professor Boakye-Yiadom said to ensure good quality in student enrolment; the admission process was being tightened by the acquisition of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) pass list for verification of results of applicants.

In all 938 candidates who successfully completed their respective HND programmes in 2005 and 2006 were awarded certificates. Mr Ansong M. R. Darko, was adjudged the overall best student in 2005 while Mr Abraham Nartey won the 2006 best student award.

Dr George Afrane, the Principal of the Polytechnic announced that it had started distance education learning programme last year.