By Itam Offor
The Cross River State House of Assembly (CRHA) recently held a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish a new legal framework for the proposed College of Health Sciences, Management and Technology.
The bill, if it sails through will repeal the existing law establishing the College of Health Technology.
The public hearing which was organised by the Assembly’s Joint Committee on Education and Health, Nutrition and Food Security had in attendance stakeholders including representatives from the State Ministries of Education, Health, Justice, Management of the College, members of Civil Society Organisations amongst others.
The proposed legislation, according to the Chairman House Committee on Education, Hon Martins Achadu (Yala 2), aims to upgrade the Institution’s status to fit current trends and best practices enabling it to operate as a Polytechnic rather than a Monotechnic.
Achadu emphasised that, this will expand the scope of health training in the state and align the institution with contemporary academic and professional standards.
“The proposed law will bring several benefits to the State and students. Upgrading to a Polytechnic will allow the Institution to offer a broader range of programmes, increase its infrastructure, and access national funding.” He said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Nutrition and Food Security and the Sponsor of the Bill, Rt Hon Hillary Bisong (Boki 2), stressed that, the amendment became necessary in order to reposition the institution for improved service delivery and enhanced manpower development in the health sector.
He emphasised that, upgrading the college would enable it to introduce additional programmes and award higher qualifications in line with national regulatory requirements.
Bisong, who serves as the Chief Whip of the 10th Assembly, further observed that, the proposed law will expand the Institution’s academic curriculum, increase funding, improve its overall status while also reducing unemployment and facilitating manpower development in the state.
In his submission, the Provost of the College of Health Technology, Dr Ita Ikpeme informed that, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) had directed the college to repeal its existing law due to some weaknesses.
According to the Provost, the current law does not provide access to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund(TETFUND) or the National Education Assessment (NEA) and does not incorporate provisions from the Polytechnic Act which has hindered the development and accreditation of the College.
The Provost further listed the benefits of the proposed legislation to include, improved Institutional status which will attract more staff and students as well as enhancement of the State’s healthcare sector through increased production of middle-level manpower.
He commended the Chairman and Members of the Joint Committee for the robust participation of stakeholders adding that the overwhelming support from participants demonstrated the acceptance of the bill.
Stakeholders made submissions both in support of and in consideration of the proposed repeal. Many described the move as timely, citing the growing demand for skilled health professionals in the state and across the country.
Some contributors, however, called for adequate funding, improved infrastructure, and staff development to ensure the successful transition from a College of Health Technology to a College of Health Sciences, Management and Technology.
The public hearing forms part of the legislative process required before the bill can be passed into law.
