Prof Paul B Tanzubil, the Rector of the Bolgatanga Polytechnic, has blamed the low enrolment of students into the polytechnic on the poor standard of science and technology education at the non-tertiary level in schools in the region.
He said this on Saturday at the sixth matriculation of the polytechnic at Sumbrungu near Bolgatanga at which 343 students were admitted to pursue HND programmes.
There were 105 women, representing 31 percent of the total number admitted. The polytechnic also admitted 79 to pursue professional courses at the non-tertiary level.
Prof Tanzubil said though the current education reforms places emphasis on science, technology and vocational education, the basic infrastructure and facilities for teaching and learning are at best rudimentary whilst the key actors remain poorly remunerated and thus de-motivated.
He called on all stakeholders in education in the region to redouble their efforts since largely illiterate population was bound to parish in this increasingly sophisticated era of globalization.
The rector said the academic programmes of the polytechnic had been expanded over the years and have now been accredited to run nine programmes all of which have direct relevance to the region and the country.
Prof Tanzubil said plans were advanced by the polytechnic to introduce Bachelor of Technology programmes as conduit for advancing professional and academic fortunes of HND students in particular and the youth in general.
Mrs. Agnes Chegabatia, Upper East Deputy Regional Minister, appealed to polytechnics to design appropriate programmes to help address the country's technological challenges.
She said with the passage of the polytechnic law, the regulatory bodies of tertiary education should be able to guide polytechnics to come out with innovative courses.