The Government of Ghana is considering establishing polytechnic institutions in all 16 regions to meet the growing demand for technical and vocational education. This was announced by the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, during a high-level meeting with the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) in Accra.
According to the Minister, the initiative aims to bridge the educational gap between senior high school and university while equipping students with practical, industry-relevant skills.
“There is the need for another layer — to have a polytechnic in each region of Ghana — to serve as a bridge between senior high school and university,” Mr. Iddrisu stated.
He emphasized that with all former polytechnics now upgraded to technical universities, a new framework is necessary to fill the void left behind.
The Minister has tasked GTEC with preparing a comprehensive proposal or blueprint to be submitted to the President. This proposal will explore the feasibility, structure, and implementation strategy for the new polytechnic institutions.
“We want GTEC to provide the President with a blueprint — outlining the possible approach — and government will explore the feasibility of establishing a polytechnic in each of the sixteen regions,” he said.
Mr. Iddrisu also called for a realignment of university education to better serve the workforce demands of Ghana.
“Our universities are sticking rigidly to their traditional mandates. Yet, there are ongoing complaints from industry that graduates are not meeting workforce needs,” he noted.
He stressed the importance of aligning university curricula with the manpower demands of the country and reaffirmed the role of GTEC in leading that transformation.
In a related update, the Minister reaffirmed the government’s pledge to provide free tertiary education for persons living with disabilities.
A four-member committee, chaired by Deputy Minister Clement Apaak, has been set up to coordinate this effort, with support from GTEC and the Student Loan Trust Fund.
“This is part of our drive to fulfill President Mahama’s pledge to all persons with disabilities,” Mr. Iddrisu stated.
The Minister also raised concerns over the management of Internally Generated Funds (IGF) by universities. He called for greater transparency and accountability, urging institutions to channel these funds into expanding access and improving infrastructure.
“Some universities claim financial constraints despite having idle funds. These could be invested in hostels, residential halls, and lecture theatres,” he noted.