Gov’t. Urged To Increase BWI Allotment

By Kingston S. Kolleh
The 68th Commencement Convocation Speaker of the Booker Washington Institute (BWI), Wynfred Russell, Councilman of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, United States of America (USA) has urged the Government of Liberia to increase its budgetary support to BWI.
He said that the institution has been at the forefront of the country’s manpower development since its establishment about a century ago.
The Councilman made these assertions over the weekend while serving as the Commencement Speaker of the Technical Vocational High School in Kakata, Margibi County where 190 Senior Students received Diplomas, accolades among others.
The Graduating Class which consisted of 190 Senior students of which the Department of Agriculture produced the highest number of graduates of 40 students with 22 males and 18 females followed by the Electrical Department producing 32 graduates consisting of 27 males along with 5 females.
Others are, 21 graduates from the Electronics Department comprising of 20 males with 1 female; Drafting Department 20 graduates with 19 males as well as 1 female; the Department of Agriculture put out the highest number of female graduates of 18 followed by Secretariat Science with 10 graduates and Accounting with 9 graduates.
However, the Masonry and Machinery Departments produced the lowest number of graduates of 7 with no female respectively. Senior students also received Diplomas from the following Departments: Automotive, Carpentry, Domestic Science and Plumbing.
Speaking under the theme; “How Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) Can Contribute To Poverty Reduction, Prosperity and National Development with BWI Being the Anchor,” the former TVET Consultant of Liberia said that in order for the youths of the country be adequately prepared in response to the changing realities of the 21st Century, it is imperative that government hugely invest in BWI.
He said that the government needs to increase its budgetary support to the BWI so that it can continue providing technical vocational educational training to the youths of the predicated upon its vision of establishment.
In order for BWI Graduates to possess the requisite skills, he maintained that the government must be willing to invest and continues to expand as well as strengthen all academic programs at the institute saying that it should also provide the cutting edge tools and pay instructors, technicians including craft men and women well, who he stated possess the dexterity of industrial technical training.
“When you adequately pay good teachers, they will eventually train good students,” he indicated.
The man who led the technical team that produced the National TVET Policy Document of Liberia which the World Bank (WB) described as excellent piece of work noted that workforce development and employment strategies are critical to helping males along with their female counterparts lift themselves and families out of poverty.
The Commencement Speaker further noted that a well-funded TVET Program is capable of developing a nation stressing that technical knowledge alone cannot create job therefore the government needs to make relevant policies that will bring about the appropriate programs so as to provide employment opportunities.
“Females must have access to financial assistance and unlimited opportunities to gain education, knowledge as well as skills that will lead to economic equity; BWI must explore the factor to women’s academic attainment by examining four approaches as retention, life-skills, support and employment,”
The Councilman divulged that BWI has had an indisputable impact on the country’s national development decades ago, as such, it needs to be elevated to a Technical College saying that will further strengthen the existing programs being offered at the school.
Mr. Russell further stated that the partnership that is presently being discussed between the stakeholders Hennepin Technical College in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota and BWI will create the opportunity for students and faculty exchange programs.
The Speaker of the day who is passionate about the elevation of BWI to a Technical College status added that he will work with BWI family for the realization of that dream.
The Swedish Ambassador accredited to Liberia, Igrid Wittergvist said as donors they recognize the importance of the youths of Liberia as 50% of the population is under 24 years of age saying because of that they are factored the government’s Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD).
She stated that because of that, the European Union (EU) is contributing 20M Euros while the World Bank (WB) is also an active partner in the sector and Sweden has already committed 6M USD.
The Ambassador then described BWI as an important partner in the process reiterating the relevance of gender equality and said that they have feminine policy that is essential to every country.
Mr. Kenneth Y. Best who spoke on behalf of the Board of Governors congratulated the graduates as they pursue their dreams in Technical Vocational Educational Training (TVET).
“I like to congratulate the Principal, faculty and staff for the great work you are doing here and I hope and pray that it continues,” he pointed out.
Mr. Best, a 1959 Graduate of BWI who is widely referred to as “Super Tiger” buttressed the Speaker’s call for government to increase the school’s allotment in the budget urging it to desist from slashing it because the institution needs to move forward considering its age.
Earlier, Thomas Stubblefield, Valedictorian of the Class, stated that they were celebrating their victories as graduates along with the institution as they about to embark on their future destinations.
“We are now walking out of the walls of BWI which was not an easy task but was a long battle and that we persevered and braved the storm as everything is finally over,” he remarked.
Education has no end and is coupled with challenges adding that commencement marks the end of a chapter and the beginning of another one so they have been given all the inks and pens so that they can write their stories which he believes will be the best.
The Valedictorian however extended thanks and appreciation to the BWI Family including their families’ contributing to their academic sojourn urging his colleagues to remain focused and continue learning.
For his part, Attorney Harris Fomba Tarnue expressed gratefulness to the Almighty God that the school is able to celebrate and sustain the works of its founding fathers and all who labor to ensure its perpetuity.
He said despite attempts to disrupt the smooth running of the school by destroying of BWI’s properties through protest as well as people sustaining wounds they are thankful to God for successfully completing 2018/2019 Academic Year.
“On the overall we experienced massive improvement in the year under review as huge number of the students made a pass in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) as compared to previous years but we are now working on our deficiencies,” he reported.
According to the Principal, with support from government including bilateral and development partners, they have greatly improved vocational and technical programs and modernized programs and facilities to the extent that they have launched new training and methodology in Competency Based Education and Training (CBET).
Mr. Tarnue vowed that his administration is committed to achieving his administration’s five years strategic plans as, Investing in Staff Development and Capacity Building, students exchange programs and in-service workshops.
Investing in internal revenue generating capacity through commercialization of vocational technical trade shops, agricultural productions and Investing in infrastructures as well as building new facilities are amongst others.
He then commended President Weah and the government for supporting the institution as well as the confidence reposed in him to continue steering the affairs of BWI.
The Chairman of the Margibi Legislatives Caucus, Ben A. Fofana has assured the graduates that they are concerned about the youths of Liberia saying that he is elated by the Mr. Russell’s commitment that he would work with BWI Family along with the Alumni Association, the Board and other Stakeholders to elevate the school to Technical College.
Secondly, the Representative stated that the Board of Governors through Mr. Best has recognized the good work the administration is doing here as laudable and must be emulated at all cost.
He then thanked the orator of the day who is the first African American to be elected as Councilman of the Brooklyn Park, Minnesota for his desire to assist BWI in moving the Technical College vowing that he has a dependable partner at the Liberian Legislature.