C'River Assembly Moves to Upgrade Health Technology College, Holds Public Hearing

The Cross River State House of Assembly (CRSHA) has taken steps toward upgrading the state’s College of Health Technology, holding a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish a new College of Health Sciences, Management and Technology.

The hearing, organised by the Assembly’s Joint Committee on Education and Health, Nutrition and Food Security, brought together key stakeholders. Representatives from the Ministries of Education, Health and Justice, the management of the college, civil society groups, and other interested parties were present to make their contributions.

Speaking during the session, the Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Hon. Martins Achadu (Yala 2), explained that the proposed legislation seeks to repeal the existing law governing the College of Health Technology. According to him, the goal is to reposition the institution in line with current academic standards and best practices by upgrading it from a monotechnic to a polytechnic.

He noted that the upgrade would broaden the range of programmes offered, strengthen infrastructure development, and improve access to national funding opportunities.

The sponsor of the bill and Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Nutrition and Food Security, Rt. Hon. Hillary Bisong (Boki 2), described the amendment as necessary to enhance service delivery and manpower development in the state’s health sector. He added that the proposed law would enable the institution to introduce more courses and award higher qualifications in line with national regulatory requirements.

In his remarks, the Provost of the College, Dr Ita Ikpeme, revealed that the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) had advised the college to repeal its current law due to identified shortcomings. He said the existing legal framework restricts access to TETFund and the National Education Assessment, while also failing to reflect provisions of the Polytechnic Act, thereby affecting accreditation and development.

Stakeholders largely supported the bill, describing it as timely in view of the growing demand for skilled health professionals. However, some participants stressed the need for adequate funding, improved infrastructure, and staff development to ensure a smooth transition.