KTU alumni protest over non-issuance of certificates

• Posted on August 15, 2018
• by Ellsamwise King
• Comment

Some old students of the Koforidua Technical University (KTU) are getting impatient with the university management over its failure to organise a graduation ceremony for them, thus causing a delay in the issuance of their certificates several months after their completion.

According to a section of students belonging to the 2016/ 2017 year group, the school’s inability to provide them with their certificates to show proof of their qualification has caused many of them to lose their jobs, a situation they describe as unfortunate.

In a petition addressed to the Council Chairman of the University, and copied to the Vice Chancellor, Dean of Students, and the Students’ Representative Council, the affected graduates said the situation had also denied them the opportunity to apply for the government’s NABCO program which was instituted to reduce graduate unemployment in the country.

“The 2016/2017 batch of the past students and the entire students of KTUwish to express our displeasure with the school management on the delay with which the school is handling our graduation.
We are losing work/Employment opportunities and scholarships as a result of lack of certificates as a proof for a successful completion of school.

Many tertiary institutions for instance have graduated their 2016/2017 batch of students, which definitely gives their graduates an edge over us in the competitive employment environment.

Similar thing happened last year but it was said to be the lack of constitution of the Council by the government, this council was however constituted last year and for about a year and half after completion, management is yet to graduate 2016/2017 batch of students”.

“The graduation was scheduled to be held recently and adverts were made, students travelled from far to come and register for their graduation, after which for reasons best known to the management, it was postponed indefinitely and till now, no news of the graduation.

What in God’s name is causing this delay when other schools graduate students in less than half a year after completion. We have lost the massive employment opportunities by GES, the Ghana Police Service recruitment, the Immigration Service and even the recent NABCO which is a government initiative to reduce graduate unemployment! all attributed to lack of certificates after completion of school.

They threatened to heighten their protest if the school fails to grant them their certificates by the 30th September, 2018.

“Management should as a matter of fact, consider this plea with urgency and alacrity and organise our graduation and give us our certificates before 30th September 2018, or else we shall advice ourselves by taking the necessary action; as they have done us enough harm. Please have the interest of students at heart for God sake “STUDENTS ARE TIRED”.

Meanwhile, the 2017/2018 batch of students who are due to begin their national service are concerned about this development which they believe it may affect them as well if the necessary steps are not taken.

They are therefore planning to storm the university’s campus with a demonstration together with the 2016/2017 year group to drum home their concerns.

Management of the school has taken note of the development and has said that it is earnestly working to address the problem to prevent it from worsening.

Source: CNR