The Wa Polytechnic has recorded what it terms “very low student enrolment” for the 2018/2019 academic year.
The Acting Rector of the Wa Polytechnic, Iddrisu Mohammed Ngmenipuo who announced this at the school’s matriculation at Wa said the Joint Admissions Committee (JAC)has been tasked to conduct a study in respect of the situation.
Mr. Ngmenipuo added that as part of its assignment the Committee is to organize a day or two days stakeholder workshop to fashion out workable and sustainable strategies to surmount the challenge of “very low student enrolment”.
During the 2018 admission cycle, the Wa Polytechnic received a total of 509 applications and out of the number 462, made up of 150 females and 312 males were admitted.
Only 324 of the applicants accepted the admissions and are duly registered. The Acting Rector of the Wa polytechnic, Mr. Ngmenipuo was hopeful that when the first batch of the Free Senior High School graduates are ready to join tertiary education, the enrolment will improve.
Touching on problems requiring urgent attention, he said the issue of converting the Wa Polytechnic to technical university is a concern to the authorities of the school.
The Acting Rector pointed out that the Polytechnic was re-assessed in January 2018 for conversion but it has not yet received any official information on whether it successful or not.
He was equally not happy about the undue delay in completing some infrastructural development projects like the hall of residence and faculty building and the delay in honoring the certificates of contractors for works executed.
Mr. Ngmenipuo also appealed to the government to give them financial clearance to recruit more staff and pledged that they were determined to work diligently to bring Wa Polytechnic back on the path of progress.
He said: “We are truly determined to work very hard to put this institution ban on the path of progress. The vision of the founding fathers of the polytechnic to build a model institution of academic excellence is not lost upon us. Some of us witnessed and were an intricate part of the transformational efforts of the first three heads of this institution.”
The Acting Rector continued that: “We have no reason whatsoever, to jettison the training and spirit of hard work and commitment they imbibed in us; that will simply mean we have failed. How can we just easily forget the pioneering work, the untiring, selfless and determined efforts of Mr. Abraham Kofi Kumah Aidoo and his two successors, Professors Sampson K. Agodzo and G.K.S. Aflakpui to build and develop this Polytechnic?”
Mr. Ngmenipuo advised the newly admitted students to be disciplined and committed to their academic work in order to be successful; saying in a crowded market quality always stands out.
Story by Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo
