Kumasi, Oct.30, GNA - Dr. Benjamin Kwesi Prah, Rector of Kumasi Polytechnic, has urged students of higher learning to develop critical minds and the capacity to appraise facts with objectivity. This would make them deal with complex situations of the world which are not provided for in textbooks.

Dr. Prah was addressing the 17th matriculation ceremony for 3,985 students of the Polytechnic in Kumasi on Friday. Out of the figure, 150 were admitted to read Bachelor of Science (BSc) Degree programmes in computerized accounting, a newly introduced course by the Polytechnic.

The rest are pursuing Higher National Diploma (HND) courses in applied science, business and management studies, entrepreneurship and enterprise development and engineering.

The Rector said within the next few years, majority of the departments if not all, would be running Bachelor's degree programmes alongside the HND. He asked the students to ensure intellectual honesty, integrity and to respect views different from their own.

They should also demonstrate modesty, perseverance and other traits of character that make an educated and cultured individual. Dr. Prah advised them not to engage in anti-social activities, shun examination malpractices, drug abuse and promiscuous lifestyles in order to escape the dreaded HIV/AIDS. Mr Isaac Yeboah, Council Member of the Polytechnic, told the students that they have a bright future and asked them to be serious in their studies. He said the Council would do all it could to make the academic environment friendly to enable them to achieve their set goals.