Education Minister, Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh, has reiterated government’s commitment in promoting tertiary education as a means of equipping the citizens with tools vital for national development.
He said adequate funding of higher education has been one of the challenges for successive administrations of the country.
The Minister said as part of efforts in addressing the challenge, government had committed itself to the establishment of a research fund for the sole purpose of funding relevant and sector specific research work in Institutions of higher learning.
Dr Prempeh, inaugurating a 19-member Governing Council of the Tamale Technical University in Accra said the research fund was in addition to the Book and Research Allowance.
The 19-member Governing Council being chaired by Dr Al-Hassan Emil Abdulai, a Government Nominee, is responsible for the governance of the university by enhancing and facilitating its vision andmission.
In line with the Technical Universities Act, 2016 (Act 922), the governing Council are expected to ensure the attainment of the aims of the Technical University; determine its strategic direction; be responsible for the management and administration of finances and properties of Technical University and determine the allocation and proper use of funds.
They are to promote income-generating activities as part of the programmes of the Technical University; promote applied research including provision of technology innovations and solutions to firms and businesses as part of the outreach; foster linkages and collaboration with relevant national and international industries and institutions in furtherance of the mission of the University.
Dr Prempeh also re-emphasised government’s readiness to support tertiary-industry collaborative programmes to increase opportunities for practical training and internship; promoting curriculum development to meet the skills and human resource demands of industry.
The Minister said the role of the Technical Universities in realizing that could not be over emphasized and urged Tamale Technical University to stick to its core mandate, which is to provide technical and vocational training to the world of work.
Dr Abdulai, on behalf of the Council, thanked the Government and the Education Ministry for the honour given them to serve their country and pledged their preparedness to work diligently to justify the confidence reposed in them.
