Should polytechnics be offered the opportunity to offer degree courses? What will be the effect in the trades industry?

Polytechnic education has contributed significantly to the development process of some countries. Indeed, in the advance world technical and vocation graduates has been played a pivotal role in the nation building-putting up new innovation and ideas to solve environmental issues.

A developed country is sometimes rated with the quality graduates from the technical field who are on the field ensuring stability, improving standard among competition.

In Ghana, the Debate of ensure effectiveness of Polytechnic education has been started as some expert are calling on government to allow the polytechnics to award degree programmers.

Parliament in 2009 passed the ‘Polytechnic bill’ recognized the country’s ten Polytechnics as technical institutions with proper organizational management structures and academic validation procedures to run bachelor of technology degree courses but since then degree programmes have not been listed in the institutions.

The Deputy Minister for Education in charge of tertiary institutions Mahama Ayariga has stated unequivocally that government would continue to consider calls by stakeholders to make polytechnics degree awarding institutions but with caution.

According to him, government was being cautious because, it did not want the situation whereby the opportunity would be granted and the polytechnics began to behave like universities that were established to run certain academic programmes but later on decided to digress into other areas of learning, thereby defeating the purpose for which they were established.

Mr. Mahama Ayariga pledged that he would rather personally support the introduction of degree programmes in the area of technical and vocational courses in addition to the science courses that are already in place and not for all other programmes.

The Chairman of the Conference of Rectors of Polytechnics (CORP) Reverend Professor Daniel A. Nyarko admitted, that in recent times polytechnics had been severely criticized that they were deviating from their core mandate of providing training for the middle-level manpower requirements of the nation.

This assertion, he said, tends to overlook the full potentials of the polytechnics as tertiary institutions, adding that, it rather seems to suggest that polytechnics were running courses that were either not approved or were outside their mandate. “In all humility, I wish to state that this is not the case. The polytechnics are running programs or courses that are approved by the regulatory authorities” he declared.

Rev. Prof. Nyarko who is also the Rector of the Accra Polytechnic indicated that polytechnics were empowered by law to award Higher National Diplomas (HNDs), Diplomas, Certificates and Degrees, arguing that polytechnics were not established and confined to providing training only at HND level.

The Chairman of CORP reiterated calls to make polytechnics in Ghana degree awarding institutions because international best practices gave that indication.

“Other polytechnics in Europe and elsewhere have expanded their scope beyond the classical diploma programmes and have all become universities offering programmes up to doctoral level. That is what polytechnics in Ghana should be encouraged and resourced to do. The advantage is that it will offer an alternative avenue for higher education, especially for the technical and vocational graduates”, he stated.

Former President of the Polytechnic Teachers Association (POTAG) Mr Godfred Agbedu told Property Express that awarding Degrees to Polytechnics will rather enhance productive and increase enrollment at the various institutions.

He stated that the Polytechnic are empowered to award Masters Programs but because of the lack of technological advancement the institution is not in position to go that far.

Mr Godfred Agbedu emphasized that education in the polytechnic institutions will improve to it best across the West African sub-region if government boldly allow the institution to award degree programmes.

He stressed that countries like South Korea, Japan, and China have been able to advance because of investment in technical and vocational education.

By: Samuel Mantey

Email: Sammyoo3@yahoo.com

Twitter: SamuelMantey

Stand out for God!

As Believers we are to stand out with our lifestyles and decisions according to the standard of God.

When God want us to embark on a special assignment for Him, he calls us out to stand alone his lines rather than the perceived direction of the world. Before Christians (Believers) can do any special assignment he/she needs must neglect worldly lifestyle and obey the words of God. In the Bible father Abraham was able to accomplish God’s direction by obeying the instruction to leave his father’s house and go to a chosen (unknown) land where he will be the father of many nations.

As believers God has called us out of the world so that we can be blessed. When we step out we are able to fulfill God’s promises to us. God also rescues His children by calling them from the land of the wicked. The Bible says in Genesis 6:5-9 God told Noah to stand out because He was going to wipe out the human race because of wickedness.

The story of Abraham, Noah, Gideon, Moses, Joshua and the rest tells us how men of God were able to stand out in the mist of lustful desires and wickedness to accomplish assignments from God.

It is not easy walking with God as it comes with its own suffering and temptations. Carrying the cross of Jesus means we might be neglected by the society and even friends because it sounds ‘crazy’ to stand out for Him.

If we not ready to sacrifice our education, money, ideas, job to stand out for the love of God then we must not expect anything from. Friendship with the world makes us an enemy of God because we cannot serve two masters at the same time. Life comes with two straight choices Heaven or Hell. There is NO in-between! So we must be ready to live the world and embrace the love and direction of God if we really want eternal glory.

The concept of standing out does not only include separating one's self from evil, but also involves the attitude of being set apart for service to God. If we follow God we live extremely different from the rest because most people have been deceived and are been drifted away from their purpose on earth.

2 Corinthians 6: 14-18 say ‘Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we (believers) are the temple of the living God.

God has said those who are ready to walk with Him must come out and be separated from the world.
God also cautions us not to touch unclean thing, and He will receive us.

Satan’s Plan against us

Doubt- makes us question God’s word and his goodness.

Discouragement- makes us look at our problems rather than God.

Diversion- makes the wrong things seems attractive so that we will want them more than the right things.

Defeat-makes us feel like a failure so that we don’t try.

Delay- makes us put off doing something so that it never gets done.

By: Samuel Mantey

Email: Sammyoo3@yahoo.com

Twitter: SamuelMantey

FORNICATION: A CONTRACT WITH EVIL

The dictionary meaning of the word "fornication" means any unlawful sexual intercourse including adultery. In the Bible the Greek definition of the word "fornication" means to commit illicit sexual intercourse.

Fornication is not just tolerated in our society but is actually being encouraged. The sin of fornication is being committed even among Christians, as many couples "live together" what I describe as ‘Play House’ and have sex before marriage.

The Bible tells us to flee this sin. Christians of the opposite sex who share an apartment claim they were not having sex so this surely wasn't wrong. The Bible declares these words in 1 Thessalonians 5:22-23:

"Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Our lives as Christians are a living witness to others and we cannot break the laws of God without hindering others from coming to Christ. We must live our lives in purity before a sinful and wicked world. We should not be living according to their standards but according to God's standard in the Bible. No couple should live together outside the bonds of marriage.

Statistics however, show that those who live together before marriage are more likely to get a divorce than those who do not. Living together shows a total lack of trust in God and a failure to commit to Him the choosing of a mate. Christians who are living in this situation are out of the will of God and need to repent and seek God as to whether this person is the right one for them. If it is God's will for them to be together they should marry. Otherwise, they need to change their living arrangements.

As Christians, the goal of any relationship should be to cause the people in our lives to love and know the Lord better. Living together is shameful and selfish as the parties do not care what others think or how they might affect their families and others. They are living to please their own lust and selfish desires.

This type of life style is destructive and especially so for children whose parents are living a bad example before them. No wonder our children are confused about right and wrong when parents degrade the sanctity of marriage by living together out of wedlock. How can living together cause children to love and honor God when their parents break the laws of God before them because they are lustful?

Young people today need to be taught to abstain from sexual intercourse and remain pure virgins before marriage. So many problems in marriages today stem from the fact that they are not virgins when they marry. Young people are bringing wounded emotions and diseased bodies into their marriages because of prior promiscuous affairs.

The sin of fornication is not only defined as illicit sexual intercourse between those who are not married but also is an umbrella for other sexual sins as well. The Bible also speaks of the sin of incest as fornication in 1 Corinthians 5:1:

"It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife."

The Bible must be our standard of what is right and wrong. We must change our standards if we do not want the wrath of God to fall on us. God hates sin but He loves the sinner. If anyone repents and calls on Jesus today He will help them to come out of any illicit relationship and heal them of all past hurts and even heal any disease that they may have contracted.

God gave us the laws in the Bible for our good. They are not meant to deny us any good thing but they are given so we can enjoy the proper sexual relationship in the proper time. If we obey the words of the Bible and "flee fornication" and glorify God in our bodies, the Lord will bless us beyond what we could believe.

Relationships based on sex do not last! Start with physical and then find out you don’t even like each other. You never grew together intellectually, emotionally, or spiritually!

Things Landlords Can Do to Attract Tenants

A friend of mine was travelling outside the country to further his education so he decided to lease his apartment for rent till he returns. As the days closer and nearer no clients had showed up. At this time he was frustrated and disappointed for the zero results for his efforts.

Well, he is not the only one in the same situation. More than 55 per cent land lord complains about the lack of interest in their property.

 In this era, Prospective tenants don’t just appear; you need to draw them in. There’s more to writing and marketing than counting off the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Appeal to renters by getting creative with deals and offers.

Here are some of the notable strategies to attract tenants.

1. Advertise Online.

Online marketing is one of the latest strategies to sell products with immediate response. If an organizations is not advertising online than the company is offline. An average Ghanaian can spend at least 2 hours online therefore its always advisable to use online services. You can easily advertise using the social media like Twitter, Facebook, +google etc.

2. Please NO AGENTS!

Sounds cliché but the one of the most sorts after commandment of tenants. Landlords who want there property off the market should ignore the agent. Tenants generally do not like the idea of agent in property acquisitions in Ghana. Landlord or property owners must therefore step up and deal directly with potential clients.

3. Offer free transportation

The morning commute is a drag, and expensive gas prices just make it worse. A great environmentally-friendly way to attract tenants – especially those without cars – is to have a free transport for them to get their items to the location.

4. Give 1 month’s rent for free.

When the Internet and other sources are just not cutting it for tenants, you can do your worst- give a month rent for free. Such a deal can help you fill your vacancy faster, and save you from paying utility and other costs on an empty unit for months on end. After all, who in their right mind would turn down such an offer?

5. Focus on Benefits NOT features.

So you think the features of the house are enough to attract a tenant. Sometimes tenants look further than features. On advertise read as “Freshly painted 5-bedroom, 1 ½ bath apartment on Beach Street, boys quarters, car park, air conditioned apartment with state of the arts fully furbished furniture available at an affordable price” – is all features. Instead, you want to focus on things like the spectacular view or the apartment’s easy access to award-winning schools or that it is steps a shopping mall, airport, tourist destination etc

If you plan to do all of this before you even buy the property you’ll find it is quicker and easier to not only fill your property at a great price – you’ll likely attract the type of tenant that will want to live in the property for a long time.

By: Samuel Mantey

Property Express

Email: Sammyoo3@yahoo.com

Twitter: SamuelMantey