Ho, Feb. 9, GNA-The commencement of Bachelor in Technology (B. Tech) programmes in the Ho Polytechnic this year has closed the chapter of agitations for academic progression by Polytechnic students in the country.

" Thus Ho Polytechnic is lighting the flame today to expand the frontiers of polytechnic education in this country".

Professor Frank Obed Kwami, Chairman of the Ho Polytechnic Council made these observations at the matriculation of 1,222 new students, 31 of whom would pursue post HND B.Tech programmes in Automobile Engineering and Hospitality and Tourism respectively in the Polytechnic. "For now, we know that polytechnic education in this country has been transformed. It is today, no more the same as it was yesterday", Prof. Kwami asserted.

Instead, "issues of specialization, depth of knowledge, relevance to job market demands, breadth and sophistication of skills, among others will move to the fore-front to receive attention", Prof. Kwame said. He said the B. Tech. Programme, seeks to deepen the knowledge content, broaden and enrich the skills element of polytechnic education and thereby produce "the highly qualified and specialized human capital that the country needs for its accelerated socio-economic advancement". Prof. Kwami urged the pioneer B.Tech students, to study diligently, be honest, obey the rules and regulations of the institution and co-operate with the Polytechnic and industry to overcome teething problems that may emerge in the course of their studies.

In his address, Mr. Paul Effah, Executive Secretary of the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) said the introduction of the B. Tech programmes marked "the beginning of great things to happen to our polytechnics".

He announced that the process of reviewing the syllabus of polytechnics has started under the co-ordination of the National Board for Professional and Technician Examinations (NAPBTEX).

Mr Effah said, "the new syllabus for Agricultural Engineering has been completed for Ho, Tamale, Wa and Bolgatanga Polytechnics". "The review of syllabuses for fashion Technology, Building Technology, Civil and Mechanical Engineering to make them competency-based are at various levels of completion", he said.

Mr Effah however, cautioned, "Polytechnics will not become great merely by the number of HND or B.Tech programmes they mount", rather, "through the quality of graduates they produce for the formal and informal sectors of the economy and through technical and technology breakthroughs through research and development".

He was optimistic that "Ho Polytechnic can stand up to this challenge because already some beginnings have been made in this regard". Dr Komla Dzisi, Principal of the Polytechnic advised the new students to draw up personal development plans because "in the world today, certificates are not enough to succeed in life. They are not even enough to secure a job".

He also encouraged the students to engage in sporting activities in the polytechnic as a pastime "to keep fit and healthy". Dr Dzisi reminded the students of the new lease of academic freedom they would be enjoying while upholding high academic standards and observance of the regulations of the polytechnic as well as the laws of the country. 09 Feb. 07