Dr Joseph Annan, Deputy Minister in-charge of Tertiary Education, has urged authorities of polytechnics to introduce relevant academic programmes that would equip students to facilitate the growth of industry and commerce. He said the government was fully aware of the indispensable nature of the polytechnics, hence the quest for the development of talents and skills among the youth to ensure socio-economic development. Dr Annan was speaking at the 4th Congregation of the Tamale Polytechnic at the weekend. He noted that the government had resolved to strengthen the operations of the Standing Committees of the Council for Technical and Vocational Education through adequate funding and the provision of essential logistics. Dr Annan expressed the hope that the recent 10 per cent salary increase across board and the introduction of the Single Spine Salary Structure would help address disparities in the salaries of the public sector workers and assist the polytechnics in particular to reduce brain drain. Alhaji Yakubu Seidu Peligah, Rector of the Polytechnic, said in 2008, a total of 501 students graduated for Higher National Diploma certificates in various disciplines. He added that the polytechnic had also witnessed a tremendous increase in enrolment with the admission of 2,291 students this year, making the overall population 6,993. Alhaji Peligah announced that the school had started the implementation of a project installation, repair and maintenance of PV solar voltaic equipment under the auspices of the Ghana-Japan collaboration to make electricity accessible to rural communities which are not hooked to the national grid. Dr Seidu Mohammed Mustapha, Chairman of the Governing Council of the polytechnic, said the council was undertaking an in-depth mid-term review of the school's five-year strategic plan in order to prepare an enhanced strategic chart to cover the 2017. He appealed to the government to expedite action on the preparation of a legislative instrument to operationalise the Polytechnic Act 2007, (Act 745). Dr Mustapha asked public-spirited individuals and organisations to support the polytechnic to build a fenced wall around the school to prevent encroachment on its land. He urged the graduates to take advantage of the conducive environment in the country to go into business and "be job creators and not seekers". Source: GNA