Booker Washington Institute (BWI) elevation to a technical college level is in sight. This followed the signing of a partnership or affiliation agreement ceremony recently between the school and the University of Liberia.
BWI’s Principal, Harris Fomba Tarnue, said the five-year strategic plan of BWI that was developed and launched by his administration in 2017 to 2022, has a section on strategic options for the way forward of the school.
He envisioned that the school continues to operate its traditional Secondary Technical and Vocational Educational Training (TVET) and the Post-Secondary Professional Programs (PSPP) in the short run while administration prepares to launch an Associate Degree Programs on an incremental basis beginning with few department to be led by the Department of Agriculture.
Tarnue made these comments at program marking the official signing ceremony of a joint resolution between BWI and the University of Liberia (UL) during the formal launching of Associate of Arts (A.A.) and Associate of Science (A.Sc.) Degrees on the campus in Kakata, Margibi County.
He said his administration’s mission and vision is being consummated between the BWI, Ministry of Education (MoE) National Commission of Higher Education (NCHE) and UL is intended for the awarding of AA Degrees by the University of Liberia.
Tarnue added that the model will allow BWI to fully prepare when it comes to gaining accreditation status not in a distance future holding all factors constant.
He noted that they already have a success story as he names the Ministry of Finance Development Planning (MFDP), Civil Service Agency (CSA), Liberia Institute for Public Administration (LIPA), and UL at which time the latter operated the Public Financial Management Training Program and awarded Diplomas and Master Degrees to successful participants.
The BWI boss maintained that owing to the pivotal roles that the school (BWI) Technical High School had played in the human development of Liberians and non-Liberians since 1929, the creation of a Technical College will provide technical training in human resource development for the country.
Tarnue lauded the government, development partners and the Alumni Community for their continuous support to BWI.
For UL’s Vice President for Academic Affairs, Moses M. Zinnah, disclosed that the Board of Governors of BWI pleaded with the University to develop Associate of Arts and Associate of Science Degrees in several selected demand-driven disciplines.
He added that based on the Faculty Senate’s approval after they had carried out thorough evaluation of the facilities at BWI, UL is expected to offer AA Degrees in Agronomy, Agricultural Education including Animal Science, AA Degrees in Electrical Engineering Technology along with AA in Accounting amongst other programs.
Zinnah, who proxied for UL’s President, Julius Sarwolo Nelson, pointed out that the AA and A.Sc Degree programs will be focused on entrepreneurship and internship with the private, public sectors as well as industries stating that larger and or experienced universities or colleges affiliating with smaller institutions is a global phenomenon that is being practiced in Africa, Europe, and the Americas.
In similar comment, Edward Lama Wonkeryor, Director General of NCHE applauded BWI and UL for the collaboration to accelerating TVET at advance levels.
He however indicated that the country is bound to progress in the 21st century and assured NCHE preparedness to working with both until the program can be elevated to Bachelor Degree Level.
For the House’s Committee on Education Chairman, George S. Boley, appreciated all of the actors who have worked towards the realization of the program, and as such, urged the students to take advantage of the program.
“The world is now competitive so you need to embrace TVET because there is a paradigm shift in the labor market with technology being the way forward,” he told the students.
Also, Chairman of the Board of Governors of BWI, Jackson J. Paye said he is overwhelmed with joy to form part of history making at the BWI.
He praised the partnership between the BWI and UL aimed at awarding Associate Degrees is a testament of the meaningful roles that they continue to play as regards to the manpower development in the country.
Paye stressed that the program is a manifestation of government’s determination to provide skills training for young people as noteworthy describing it as a milestone achievement.
