Accra Polytechnic Matriculates fresh studentsAccra Polytechnic Matriculates fresh students

Accra, Jan 17, GNA -The Accra Polytechnic on Friday held its 21st Matriculation ceremony to admit 3,454 fresh students into various programmes offered by the institution for the 2013/2014 academic year.The Matriculants were introduced by the Deans of the various schools run by the Institutions to the Registrar of the Accra Polytechnic, Mrs Rita Kaine, who in turn led them to swear the Matriculation Oath and Declaration of Obedience.The students were further led by the Registrar to sign the covenant of admission, which enjoins each student to be of acceptable behavior, in keeping with good taste and propriety.Professor Sylvester Achio, Rector of the Polytechnic, later made a declaration after receiving the list of freshmen and women from the Registrar, to signify their official admittance to the various programmes that had been awarded them by the Institution.He congratulated the fresh students for turning out in their numbers to grace the occasion, which also symbolised their acceptance as junior members of the Accra Polytechnic.Prof. Achio explained that out of the total number of 6,887 applications received for admissions into the various programmes, only 4,546 applications, representing 66 percent qualified, however the Institution was able to offer admission to 3,454 of the qualified applicants.He further explained that out of the admitted students 1,794 received unconditional admissions, while the remaining 1,660 were based on a conditional term that required a pass in a special three-month access course run by the Polytechnic.The Rector said the Polytechnic operated three major Schools, namely: The School of Business and Management Studies, School of Applied Sciences and Arts and the School of Engineering, with each school having five departments.He said although the Polytechnic’s programmes range from technician certificate, Diploma in Business Studies (DBS), Higher National Diploma (HND) to Bachelor of Technology (BTECH) degrees, it was in collaboration with other higher educational institution outside the country, as well as local business entities to ensure practical skills training and also to expand its programmes.He indicated that the year’s admissions had been very challenging to the Polytechnics, owing to directives by the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTC) and the National Accreditation Board, to abide strictly by the A1-C6 requirements.According to him, applicants, who met the minimum requirements with aggregate 36 or better in the West African Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (WASSCE) and 24 or better in the Senior Secondary School Certificate of Education (SSSCE) with mixed grades of D7 and E8 in any of the three core areas, were not admitted.He however stated that it was after sound arguments put up by the various Rectors and other stakeholders that applicants with the D7 and E8 were admitted on condition that they passed a three-month special access course programme.He therefore advised those applicants to study hard and pass the access course examinations in order to make a stronger case for government to hasten the process of streamlining the admission criteria into the Polytechnics.Prof. Achio also urged the new students to be of good behavior since the Polytechnic would not countenance behaviors such as alcoholism, narcotics, indecent dressing, obscene language and other deviant attitudes and asked them to be humble, respectful, disciplined and ready to accept divergent views of others.He encouraged them to make good use of the facilities provided by the institution to ensure quality returns for the investments being made by their benefactors.Mr Cornelius Dzikunoo, a Member of the Governing Council of the Accra Polytechnic, who represented the Council’s Chairman, Professor Joshua Alabi at the ceremony, congratulated the students and encouraged them to be obedient and respect the school authorities to ensure peaceful co-existence and harmony.GNA Read Full Story