ASUNASI TECHNICAL AT CROSSROADS — SAGOE (MIRROR, PAGE 25 APRIL 1, 2010)

From Joe Okyere, Asuansi.

THE Asuansi Technical Institute, the premier in technical education in Ghana, as well as the first technical institute in the sub-region, is at the crossroads.
Started in 1917, it has held its own all these years against overwhelming odds of old and inadequate infrastructure.
“Perhaps our geographical location has contributed to the lack of prominence and the needed attention either from the government or corporate bodies.” This is how the Principal, Mr Joshua Sagoe, summed up the predicament of the institute.
Mr Sagoe said the seeming neglect was portrayed by the poor infrastructure, including the limited and dilapidated residential facilities for both staff and students.
According to the principal, the academic and residential facilities put up 93 years ago were for a student population of about 200.
Student enrolment over the years has been increasing consistently following the enrolment drive embarked upon and this has far outstripped the capacity of the facilities. The current enrolment is 830, with a boarding population of 560.
Over the years, management has ingeniously been providing classroom and residential space to accommodate the increasing number of students, but now has reached rock bottom.
The school faces huge challenges in terms of staff and student accommodation to run the four-year senior high school system.
It is in this vein that the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of the institute is funding the construction of a two-storey dormitory project at a cost of GH¢240 million to ease the plight of both management, staff and the students.
When completed, the dormitory will accommodate 600 students.
At the sod-cutting ceremony last Thursday, Mr Sagoe, a product and former staff member of the institute for eight years, commended the PTA for its immense support for the running of the institute.
He expressed the hope that the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese (AAK) District Assembly would provide a six-classroom pavilion as a short-term measure and that they were excited and full of anticipation of the government’s commitment to upgrading the institute as one of the 10 public technical institutes.
The principal further hoped that Tullow Oil would keep to its promise to put up a science laboratory for the institute.
The Chairman of the PTA, Mr Emmanuel Gbekley, said the ground floor of the project would be completed by September, this year, to enhance enrolment at the institute.
The District Chief Executive, Madam Araba Adusah, said the assembly would provide support for the institute to meet its mission and vision of providing excellent technical education in the country.
The Chief of Asuansi, Nana Yaw Berkoh III, also commended the PTA for the project.