Ho, July 29, GNA- Dr Komla Dzisi, Principal of the Ho Polytechnic, on Saturday said the educational institution was at the threshold of offering University programmes and higher professional courses. This, he said, was as a result of arrangements between the Polytechnic and local and foreign Universities and professional training institutions.

Dr Dzisi who said these in a report on the Polytechnic at its seventh congregation at Ho, mentioned the programmes and courses as Certificate in Primary Education and Bachelor of Commerce being offered by the University of Cape Coast and Certificate in Technical Education being offered by the University of Education, Winneba, College of Business Education at Kumasi.

Others were Executive Masters in Business Administration (MBA), Mastes in Science (MSc) Industrial Mathematics, Bachelor in Science (BSc) Building Technology and BSc Computer Engineering all being offered at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

The rest were MSc Information Systems, MSc International Business, Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), Diploma in Marketing and Certificate in Marketing being offered by the London Centre of Marketing.

Dr Dzisi said "It is anticipated that running these programmes would make the Polytechnic more relevant to the needs of the people as well as increase the institution's international visibility."

He said the Polytechnic would be provided with computers with inter-net connectivity, books, on-line study centers, under the project. Dr Dzisi also hinted that the institution was planning to introduce Higher National Diploma (HND) in Industrial Art, Civil Engineering and General Agriculture and also to start part-time and evening classes for programmes being pursued at the polytechnic.

He said the National Board for Professional and Technician Examinations was considering the Polytechnic's proposal to run a "bridging" programme in Mathematics and English Language for technical and vocational graduates to enable them to pursue HND programmes.

Professor Frank O. Kwami, chairman of the Polytechnic Council, said the Academic Board had been tasked to draw a new strategic plan for the institution, to replace the current one which would expire at the end of this year.

He appealed for more financial support from government and the GETFund and urged industry to support the Polytechnic.

Prof. Kwami said the Polytechnic had set up an industrial liaison office with a full time staff, to establish good relations between the Polytechnic and industry and to improve training programmes designed for practical attachment students.

He appealed to government, non-governmental organizations and philanthropists to support the Office with two double cabin pick-up vehicles to facilitate its activities.

Prof. Kwami urged government to ensure early conclusion of negotiations on conditions of service for staff of Polytechnics in the country and to promptly implement decisions to prevent qualified staff from being lured by industry.

He said "Staff retention is becoming difficult and recruitment of new staff is almost impossible due to the considerable improvement of salaries and conditions of service in the public Universities and similarly good conditions in many private Universities."

In a speech read on his behalf, the outgoing Minister of Education Science and Sports, Paapa Owusu Ankoma said the rapid development of infrastructure at the polytechnics through out the country was a reflection of government's commitment to improving conditions of service of the staff.

He, therefore, appealed to the staff to exercise restraint to enable government to comprehensively tackle the service conditions issue. Paapa Ankoma urged polytechnic graduates to take advantage of schemes established by government and set up their own businesses.