Professor Samuel Erasmus Alnaa, who serves as the Vice-Chancellor of the Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU), has stated that the small number of students that enroll at the university is having a detrimental impact on the institution's expansion and development.
Speaking to the 11th Congregation of the institution, he noted that the low enrollment had led to the low production of internally generated funds (IGF), which in turn made it impossible for the university to create meaningful development using its IGF. He was referring to the university's inability to make meaningful development using its IGF.
"The number of students graduating today demonstrates that there is a challenge in student population," he emphasized, "which has made the university unable to honor payments of non-payroll allowances to staff and members of the Governing Council who continue to sacrifice to enable the university to run smoothly." "The number of students graduating today demonstrates that there is a challenge in student population."
Statistics
578 students in total graduated, with 274 men and 304 females making up the student body. There were 189 students who graduated with a Bachelor of Technology degree, 346 students who finished with a Higher National Diploma (HND), and 31 students who received a professional diploma.
First-class honors were awarded to 98 of the graduates, including 60 girls and 38 men, out of the total number of students who received their diplomas.
Professor Alnaa pleaded with faculty, students, and other members of the university's community to make more sacrifices so that the institution could fulfill its mission of providing the necessary human resource for industry and continue to contribute to the growth of the nation.
Brand new programming
He stated that the university has offered numerous new programs at the diploma, HND, and B-Tech levels in an effort to attract more students. He also stated that "we are firming up plans to introduce master of science in agriculture," which is the institution's specialty field.
He added that the university was contemplating expanding the competence based training (CBT) to all programs in the near future, and he emphasized, "I urge the public to take advantage of the wide range of programs to develop the competencies and skills for job opportunities that may come their way." In addition, he stated that the university was exploring expanding the competency based training (CBT) to all programs in the near future.
Formulation of a strategy
In reference to the 10-year strategic plan that was just recently introduced, the Vice-Chancellor stated that it was anticipated that it would direct the university and its operations in becoming a preferred technical institution in the country.
He stated that the achievement of that lofty goal was contingent on the infrastructure, which was an essential component in the distribution of educational opportunities.
Attempts to address low student enrollment
The Chairman of the institution's Council, Professor Francis A. Abantanga, has requested that the government, in particular, grant scholarship packages to students who are pursuing courses in technical, vocational education training (TVET) in order to increase the number of students who enroll in the institution and solve the problem of low enrollment.