EDUCATIONAL REFORMS AND THE ROLE OF POLYTECHNIC EDUCATION IN THE SOCIO- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF GHANA

Abstract

This paper contributes to the debate on the educational reforms and the role of the polytechnics in economic development of Ghana. The paper was an outcome of a review of secondary data supported by interviews with, polytechnic Rectors, polytechnic administrators and government officials across seven polytechnics in Ghana. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the key informants and qualitative analysis procedure was used. The study examined the educational development from the colonial period as bases for Ghana educational system today, the period of internal self-governance, the impact of the education development and reforms that took place in 1987. Following the educational reforms, the polytechnics became part of the institutional network responsible for the training of the middle man-power for the socio-economic development of the Ghana. Apart from raising the political and social awareness of citizens in Ghana, the polytechnics have witnessed the unprecedented growth and expansion from the 1990s to date. Many polytechnic trainees who became successful entrepreneurs have provided employment to other citizens in Ghana. They provided the alternative route aimed at easing pressure on the traditional universities and also promoted and encouraged scholarship and community service within Ghana. In that sense, they have made a significant strives as centers for excellence for the development of human resource for national development. The paper calls for government to pay more attention to the polytechnics in Ghana and backed all initiative to develop the country’s polytechnics by legislation.