BWI Seniors End Job Training

By Kingston S. Kolleh
In adherence to its annual tradition of ensuring that senior students of the Booker Washington Institute (BWI) acquire job training prior to their graduation, this academic year’s seniors recently concluded the 2019 Job Placement/Internship Program at various institutions.
The triumphant return of more than 200 seniors of the 2019/2020, “The ADARA Class” (Strong and Powerful) back on campus after the program was marked with euphoric festivities as students were seen singing and dancing to the sound of their marching band.
Speaking during the indoor program, Moses Bundoo, Job Training Coordinator/BWI disclosed that unlike other years’ programs, the 2019 Job Training and Internship Program was a great success because the trainees’ performances were outstanding and they also demonstrated a disciplined behavior.
He said even though they faced difficulties like finding institutions for the students to do their training coupled with transportation among other challenges, they exerted effort that resulted to finding government agencies and private institutions and appealed to the Government, Ministry of Education (MoE) including the Ministry of Youth & Sports (MYS) for a vehicle to be used exclusively for the program.
Mr. Bundoo then applauded those institutions that accepted the students for the training and informed the audience that students of the Accounting, Electronics and Electrical Departments did not get the training because of insufficient institutions, stating that additional institutions have already assured them of taking in students of the subsequent class.
The Job Training Coordinator announced that the 2020 Job Placement Program will shortly begin pointing out that this time the process will be a 50-50 approach meaning that the administration, parents and students are expected to assist in finding places,” he indicated.
Moning Wanda, GIZ’s Representative stated that she was delighted to form part of the program on behalf of the Country Director owing to the long partnership between BWI and GIZ noting that they are presently implementing a project in road construction.
“I commend you for demonstrating high level of proficiency during the training and be focused on your studies because you deserve a brighter future,” she urged the seniors.
Gabriel Sela-son of CADENA explained that they are carrying out MYS’ Projects dubbed: ‘Youths Entrepreneurship Project” with the responsibilities of placing 150 interns for job placement admitting it was possible through the support of Principal Tarnue.
Sela-son averred that BWI should now begin to provide what he called ‘starter’ by making available seed capital for graduates who have interest in establishing their own businesses because the number of graduates increases on an annual basis believing that, it has the propensity of curtailing the issues of finding institutions for job training.
For his part, Attorney Harris Fomba Tarnue, Principal indicated that he was overjoyed by the marvelous performance of the senior students saying that he was not surprised, because his administration is providing contemporary Technical Vocational Educational Training (TVET) coupled with good moral behavior for the students.
He then referred to the students as his own products and that is why they named their class ‘ADARA’ (strong and powerful) adding that he envisages a remarkable results for the Seniors from this year’s West African Seniors School Examination Certificate (WASSEC) because students will be allowed to do subjects relating to their areas of studies.
Commenting on the issues of entrepreneurship and job starter, Mr. Tarnue informed the audience that the administration initiated the projects in 2018 with support from UNDP which is presently funding four companies where some graduates of BWI are now acquiring trainings as some are contemplating on establishing their own businesses.
“The Principal’s Cabinet has established the BWI Enterprise Limited as an innovative approach geared toward buttressing Government’s support to his administration’s vision of transforming the school ‘Model Center of Excellence’ in TVET,” he stated.
Jacob Swee, Vice Principal/ Instructions (VPI) told the students that senior years are very challenging at BWI and then urged them as seniors to redouble their efforts as vigorous tutorial classes and academic sessions are imminent.
“Quit the playing at the moment and focus on your lessons because we are expecting you to make maximum use of the government’s fund that will be expended toward your WASSEC Fees so that you can emerge with flying colors, “he admonished them.