C-Poly awards 1,209 graduates with HND

A total of 1,209 graduates were over the weekend awarded with Higher National Diploma by the Cape Coast Polytechnic (C-Poly) in Business and Management Studies, Engineering, Applied Sciences and Arts.

The graduates were presented with certificates in recognition of their excellent academic performance during the eighth congregation ceremony of the school on Saturday in Cape Coast.

Speaking at the colourful ceremony, the acting Rector of the Polytechnic, Mr. Kobina Atombo Simpson, indicated that if government support for polytechnic should increase, it would help in the tremendous transformation of the country since polytechnic education is the catalyst to the nation’s industrialization drive.

Mr. Atombo Simpson disclosed that an affiliation agreement will soon be signed between the polytechnic and the North Carolina Agriculture and Technical University in the United States of America (USA) to mentor and award Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Mechanical Engineering, Master of Science (M.Sc) in Mechanical Engineering and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Mechanical Engineering.

He further disclosed that in addition to the above, a memorandum of understanding has been signed between the polytechnic and the Hague University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands for students and staff to exchange training in all the programmes that are run by the polytechnic.

He added that the polytechnic has also affiliated itself with the University of Education, Winneba, and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) for students to take up teaching and building technology programmes respectively.

Atombo Simpson therefore appealed to government to fast-track and resolve all issues that are impeding the smooth implementation of the Single Spine Salary Structure to ensure peaceful environment on the polytechnic campus.

He pointed out that the hostel facility available in the polytechnic can accommodate only 280 students which is just about 10% of the total student population.

Against this backdrop he appealed to government to put up more hostel facilities for the students.

The chairman of the Polytechnic Council, Prof. Benjamin A. Osei, disclosed that the major task facing the council is the selection of a substantive rector for the polytechnic, adding that much importance is attached to the position of the rector.

“I want to plead with the polytechnic community to exercise restraint and allow the search process to be devoid of sectional, political or personal interest,” he advised.

He advised the graduates to be useful to themselves, family and state as they prepare to leave for the world outside school.

He further advised them to shun “get-rich-quick” attitude and not let the love for money and material gains entice them to play mischief.

“A good life worthy of emulation is not the acquisition of countless cedis but a life of service to God and humanity. Wherever you find yourself, always remember that a good name is better than riches,” he stressed.

For his part, the deputy Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary, Mahama Ayariga, who was the guest of honour, noted that in a speech read on his behalf that drafters of the school curriculum must ensure that polytechnic education is embedded with more technological syllabus to ensure that students contributes meaningfully to nation’s development.