Koforidua, Dec. 12, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills, on Saturday urged the polytechnics not to abandon their mission and rather concentrate on research and development and the training of career-oriented human capital, required for accelerated development.

He said the concept of polytechnic education was quite different from the academic oriented education provided by the universities. President Mills said this in speech read on his behalf on at the seventh Congregation of the Koforidua Polytechnic.

He said government recognised and appreciated the contribution of trained men and women from the polytechnics to the development of the nation and would not relent in its efforts to improve on facilities at their disposal to facilitate quality education. President Mills said the practical orientation of polytechnic training made it the primary avenue for the development of skills for business and industry.

He expressed appreciation that the polytechnics are introducing the Competency-Based Training (CBT), method to promote the practical nature of teaching. President Mills said if the CBT was carried out effectively, graduates from the polytechnics would be in high demand in industry.

The President announced that Koforidua polytechnic was allocated GHc1.4 million from the Ghana Education Trust Fund this year for development projects.

President Mills asked the graduates to look into the future with hope and determination and to let the knowledge they had acquired empower them to make a difference in their lives and the nation. Nana Nkwantabisa III, Chairman of the Governing Council of the Polytechnic, said the academic facility was now autonomous to grant certificates in line with the provisions of the Polytechnics Law of 2007 (ACT 745).

He appealed to the staff and students to use dialogue in addressing their grievances instead of threats and intimidation. Dr George Afrane, Rector of the Polytechnic, said in a report that plans were far advanced for the commencement of five new programmes including Bachelor of Technology in Accountancy, Waste Management and Procurement Management next academic year. The polytechnic has a student population of 4,174 with staff strength of 474. Nine hundred and twenty five (925) students graduated with 15 of them obtaining first class.