In the quest to convert Tamale and Cape Coast Polytechnics into fully fletched technical universities by amending the Technical University Act, the Honourable Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu has indicated that the conversion of polytechnics into technical universities need careful consideration to prevent any unforeseen contingencies that may have adverse effects on academics and employment.
In his submission to a motion on the request to amend the Technical University Act, the Minority Leader stated that “there should be a national dialogue on the mandates of universities. Most universities have shifted from their core mandates. University of Cape Coast (UCC) has shifted from its core mandates. KNUST, as a science and technology oriented institution has now engaged in humanities. Most universities are venturing into arts and applied arts, thereby neglecting the technical and applied sciences. This paradigm shift has contributed to massive unemployment in the country”.
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu again noted that Article 187 of the 1992 Constitution makes all public accounts including those of the universities to be monitored by and reported to the Auditor’s General Department for accountability.
“The Auditor’s General Department must take interest in the accounts of the universities. When the universities sell admission forms, they make enormous financial amount of money. Who do they account to for use of that money? The fees and charges that they take, are they accounted for? The universities expect the central government to offload some financial burden. We should understand taking responsibility of such burden vis-à-vis their (universities) financial muscle against what they demand from students and parents to pay”, he added.
He further cautioned that public universities should understand that government still takes responsibility for tuition and that universities cannot charge as high as private universities and offset such costs unto the ordinary parents.
He concluded that the country must define the type of human resources needed within five to ten years and that such planning must be tied to the national development objectives.
