a snapshort of tamale polytechnic:the evolution of an educational institution in northern ghana presenter :alhassan a

2. INTRODUCTION: HISTORICAL OVERVIEW Established as a trade school in 1950 Converted into a Technical Institute in 1963 In 1984, it was upgraded to the status of a non-tertiary Polytechnic with a responsibility to offer advanced/craft and diploma programmes. In 1993, the Polytechnic was further upgraded to the level of a tertiary institution with five others in the country, namely: Accra, Cape Coast, Kumasi, Ho and Takoradi as part of the educational reforms, which the PNDC Government was pursuing (PNDC Law 321) .

3. Continuation- History of T�poly The mandate of the polytechnics was to: Provide tertiary education through full time courses in the fields of manufacturing, commerce, science, technology, applied social science, applied arts and such other areas as may be determined by the authority for the time being responsible for higher education. Encourage study in technical subjects at the tertiary level. Provide opportunity for development, research and publication of research findings. The mission of Tamale Polytechnic is to train highly skilled, career focused and professional middle level manpower through the provision of HND programmes in several disciplines. Provide tertiary education through full time courses in the fields of manufacturing, commerce, science, technology, applied social science, applied arts and such other areas as may be determined by the authority for the time being responsible for higher education. Provide tertiary education through full time courses in the fields of manufacturing, commerce, science, technology, applied social science, applied arts and such other areas as may be determined by the authority for the time being responsible for higher education.

4. FACULTIES Three faculties School of Business Accountancy dep�t Marketing dep�t Mgt and secretaryship dep�t School of Engineering Agricultural Engineering dep�t Mechanical Engineering dep�t Building Technology dep�t School of Applied Sciences Statistics department Hospitality, Catering and Institutional Management dep�t (HCIM). The Departments continue to provide quality teaching to its students who find themselves in many responsible positions in both the private and public sectors.

5. Social responsibility The department of accountancy organises training in basic book keeping for trade associations in the region The department of secretaryship and management studies has gone out to train workers in some Districts, notably the Yendi District Assembly, and contacts have also been made to get the department to train more employees of District Assemblies in the Northern Region The Catering department in collaboration with Ghana Toutist board organises workshops and training for traditional caterers on regular basis The Mechanical dept. manufactures improvised farm implements for the community at affordable prices

6. CHALLENGES Population Students- about 8,000 Teaching staff- about 105 Lecture space-max. capacity 80 students Library Capacity- 176 students Outmoded materials Computer facility Road network Untarred roads Effects- dusts

7. The Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) Set-up in 1999 Objective :enhance and sustain an improved learning and teaching situations in our schools and higher educational institutions. Engages in the provision of infrastructure, academic facilities, textbooks, furniture, especially desks and vehicles. GETFund- assist projects in T�poly ; Ultra modern Computer Science pool/complex Library complex Administration block complex Staff dev�t fund

8. CONCLUSION We are hopeful the GETFund and other stakeholders will continue to support us in this noble struggle to train professionals who will help push the economy of the country to a very high level. THANK YOU