Staff of the six polytechnics converted into technical universities are demanding the Ministry of Education withdraws from Parliament, the technical universities amendment bill of 2017.
According to them, sections 24, 26, 27 and 42 of Technical University Act 922 (2016) which are up for amendment would grant powers to the National Council for Tertiary Education to carry out the very functions being performed by the governing council of the technical universities.
They argued that the governing councils are empowered under sections 26 and 42 of the Act to enact statutes to regulate the appointment, conditions of service, termination of appointments and retirement benefits among others in keeping with the best practices in university administration in Ghana.
Staff of the Takoradi Technical University have staged a protest to cause the Ministry of Education to withdraw the bill which is currently before parliament for consideration and possible passage.
They claimed the proposed amendments largely seeks to grant powers to the NCTE to perform functions which generally fall within the purview of the governing councils, academic boards and the principal officers of universities in Ghana.
They have thus presented a petition on the matter to the Western Regional Minister. Vice President of the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana, Nana Kwapong Offei-Boahene, said the proposed amendments clearly smacks of bad faith and show of power by the minister of education.
He indicated the NCTE as an advisory body would effectively takeover the functions of the governing councils, the academic board and the principal officers of the technical universities in Ghana contrary to its core functions as stipulated in section 2 of Act 454.
President of the Technical University Teachers Association of Ghana Peter Awini Seidu explained the matter is already in court and believes there will be a light at the end of the tunnel.
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