The Chair of the newly appointed Board of Governors of the Booker Washington Institute (BWI), Jonathan Paye-Layleh, has lavished praises on Principal Harris Fomba Tarnue.
He said that Tarnue’s administration has done tremendous work at the school over the years that has brought transformation to their alma mater.
The former Ex-Officio of the board was speaking during a meeting with the BWI Family, including some senior members of the alumni association recently on the campus in Kakata, Margibi County.
The former president of the alumni association disclosed that his visit on the campus was intended to express sincere commendation to Tarnue for bringing the school at an appreciable level, evidenced by his administration’s developmental initiatives being carried out on the campus.
Paye-Layleh informed the audience that President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, the Chair Ex-Officio of BWI Board of Governors, recently appointed Madam Nancy T. Freeman to replace Principal Tarnue, but clarified that the out-going Principal was never dismissed as may have been perceived, adding that he is now transferred on the Board of the National Education for Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) in Liberia, he pointed out.
According to him, BWI needs to upgrade its curriculum with 21st century Information Technology (IT) courses so that the graduates can be on par with their colleagues in other parts of the world.
He further stressed that he will be liaising between the office of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and the Board of Governors for the needed support when it comes to building upon the achievements of Tarnue when the new board is constituted.
Paye-Layleh however promised to support Madam Freeman when she takes office and again lauded the Head of the administration for his commitment towards the transitional process because according to him, Tarnue has remained calm and also kept the campus in similar manner since the appointment of his successor was announced.
“I was aware that you would have succeeded because of your vast knowledge as an experienced administrator, a former legislator, lawyer, as well as a member of the BWI Alumni Association,” the Chair stressed.
The immediate outgoing Chairman of the Board of Governors, Jackson J. Paye, maintained that he enjoyed cordial working relationship with Attorney Tarnue because he has been running the institution in line with his five-year strategic plan as they are presently offering courses in Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (A. Sc.) Degrees as the first batch of students will be completing their studies.
He urged his colleagues, stakeholders, as well as the students, not to allow their sentiments to bring confusion on the campus, as was done during the ascendency of Principal Tarnue, because it has the propensity of destroying of school’s properties like the school bell that got damaged at that time.
The outgoing principal, Tarnue recalled that he was appointed as the principal by former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf based on her belief in efficient and effective public service delivery through the merit-based system.
He said that he emerged from a competitive bidding process of which more than eight persons applied, noting that he presented five strategic plans as the roadmap of his administration and was vetted and tested by the board relative to the plan that he crafted as staff development and capacity building, infrastructural development and building of additional ones; others are active competitive student recruitment and retention, as well as the generation of internal revenue, market focused institution.
He then boasted that every aspect of his plan was positively exhausted because the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Survey is a testament to that as the organization graded BWI ninety percent after conducting a survey on quality service delivery at every TVET institutions in the country.
Additionally, he mentioned that his achievements on campus can also be measured by the many educational awards that he received, like the School Growth International, a Nigerian based Educational Institution, in collaboration with the National Principal [NPAL] and the National Teachers Associations of Liberia [NTAL], awarded him the African Educational Legend Award last year.
He also named a Doctorate Degree in Public Management and policy, Honoris Causa from the Myles Leadership University with Headquarters Telangana, India, asserting his turnover notes are simply the infrastructural development on campus, the public, including the internship partners, because they can testify regarding to the quality of graduating students that are sent to them for internship as well as the development partners.
He however expressed gratitude to former President George Weah for keeping him in office when some individuals attempted to remove him from there in 2019, against the law governing BWI through the intervention of some of his Ministers.
Henderson N. Samuka, who proxied for the president of the BWI Alumni Association (BWIAA), Thomas Parker, expressed delight relative to the achievements of the outgoing principal’s administration under difficult circumstances, admitting that he indeed inherited a divided workforce.
He indicated that the workforce was later unified by their boss by applying his administrative ingenuity, and as such, things were put in place and they began working smoothly.
The president of the BWI Senior Students, Aaron T. Jackson, congratulated their principal for what he referred to as his administration’s exceptional performance, but described the mood as sad.
He said that is sad because they will miss the fun memories, the principal’s sustained advocacy, and that he was always seeking for opportunities on their behalf.
“I can vividly recall that the school was ranked amongst 10 best schools in the world last year by T4, a British Educational Foundation in TVET for community collaboration.
This was a result of your passion for excellence in academia that undoubtedly gave us global recognition. We assure you of always following your footprints and wish you the best in your future endeavors,” he indicated.
Isaac B. Stevens, former Vice principal for Administration at the school, hailed the outgoing Executive Officer (EO), asserting that there is a time and season for everything under the heaven, but every season comes with its own expectations and responsibilities.
He explained that Tarnue demonstrated responsibility and met the expectations by hugely impacting the institution, believing that he will be remembered.
“Your creativity and collaborating spirit are so amazing and that qualifies you as the champion of BWI when it comes to TVET Education in Liberia and beyond,” Stevens said.
Also, the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) Chairman, Tutu Kumameni, expressed thanks and appreciation to the administration, the alumni community, including the members of the Board of Governors, for successfully steering the affairs of the BWI.
He however advanced some recommendations that he believes, when taken into consideration, will reduce the challenges that parents are facing daily and are affecting the students on the other hand: that the government should please reinstate the autonomous status that BWI had before for the smooth running of the school, that salaries of the workforce should be increased to serve as a motivation for them, and that the PTA should form part of the Board of Governors.
