Mr John Bosco Azigwe, Acting Rector of the Bolgatanga Polytechnic, has called for an integrated approach to reverse the trend of low enrolment of Science and Engineering students in the polytechnics.
This would ensure the proper development of human capital of the nation towards sustainable socio-economic progress.
Mr Azigwe said this at the Polytechnic's eighth Matriculation ceremony where 155 women and 348 men were sworn in to pursue various programmes.
He said out of the total of 503 students, 154 representing 30 per cent enrolled for Engineering and the Sciences, which was the focus of polytechnic education in the country.
He assured the public of the polytechnic's mandate to produce quality and career focused students who would be responsive to the needs and demands of employers and professional bodies.
He advised the students to take discipline and quality assurance, which were the Polytechnic's guiding principles for academic work as their watch words and not allow the reason for which they were in the school be marred.
"Management is determined to provide leadership and enabling environment for effective teaching and learning," he assured the students.
He said to ensure smooth academic work a contract had been awarded for the supply of 50 computers for the computer laboratory, teaching aids, 400 chairs and desks for use in the lecture halls.
Mr Azigwe announced the introduction of the Higher National Diploma (HND) Procurement and Logistics programme to help address the ever increasing demand for professionals in the procurement industry.
He said procurement accounted for about 70 per cent of the Government's expenditure hence the promulgation of Public Procurement Act 2003; 663 that coordinated and supervised government and public agency procurement.
Mr Robert Ajene, a retired educationist, who reviewed the reason for the establishment of the institution advised students not to only think of the certificates they would obtain on completion of their courses but also the services they would render, as middle level professionals, to the country.
While warning the students against examination malpractices, he sent a strong caution to those bearing fake results to begin advising themselves before they were found out and given the sack.