Accra Poly Stage Second Day Of Protest

Accra (GAR), June 25, - Students of Accra polytechnic today staged a second day of demonstration to protest against the decision by the Ministry of Education that the Higher National Diploma (HND) ranks next to a first degree. The students, with red bands around their heads and wrists, sang as they marched through some streets of the city. According to them, they were boycotting classes until their leaders meet Parliament on Friday to resolve the issue. Mr Bismarck Seidu, President of the Accra Polytechnic Students Representative Council, told the Ghana News Agency that they disagree with the Ministry's assertion that facilities in the polytechnics are not adequate. This is because the same situation can be found in all the tertiary institutions. Moreover, the content of their syllabus involves a lot more than what is done at the universities, he said. "We know the calibre of lecturers we have in the polytechnics, therefore, we don't agree with the Ministry that they are not qualified". Mr Seidu said the students do not find their lecturers wanting, adding that this is an attempt to derail the HND programme.