Accra, May 16, GNA - Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister of Education, Science and Sports, on Friday urged polytechnic students to build competency and embrace entrepreneurship after completion of their studies to reduce the stress in seeking for jobs.

He was speaking at the 10th anniversary of the Polytechnic Association of Science and Laboratory Technicians on "Unleashing the Entrepreneurship potential."

Mr Fobih said government was committed to placing science at the forefront of education towards quality human capital and to lay a solid foundation for future productivity through entrepreneurship. He said government had allocated one million Ghana cedis for the purchase of chemical and laboratory equipment to improve the training of students in that curriculum, saying this would provide students with the requisite skills before they went into entrepreneurship. Mr Fobih said an amount of 186,327 US dollars had also been approved to enhance practical training of technical students. Mr. Francis Addo, Director of Standards, Ministry of Trade and Industry, PSI, said government alone was unable to meet the demands of entrepreneurs, and the ministry was working closely with the private sector to ensure the success of entrepreneurs.

He said it was necessary for students to take initiative and risks while it sought information and solutions to develop self-confidence that would help them set up businesses. Mr Addo said entrepreneurship was one area lagging behind in the country's educational curriculum and therefore there was the urgent need for its inclusion in the curriculum so that students would have a sense of setting up their own businesses after school instead of seeking to be employed by companies.