GREENLIGHT TO OPERATE

Education Ministry gives Liberia Dujar the ‘go-ahead’ to operate a technical college.

Danesius Marteh, danesius.matten@frontpageafricaonline.com

The Ministry of Education (MOE) has given the Liberia Dujar School System the permission to operate a college, which will be called the Liberia Dujar Technical College (LDTC).

At the presentation ceremony in the minister’s office on April 14, the director of higher education at the MOE praised the effort of Dujar to open the college despite a hectic process.

Michael Slawon was particularly pleased with the administration in the wake of a brain drain, particularly in the technical and vocational areas.

“What we are lacking in this country is technical college. We have 28 liberal art colleges and I would be hesitant giving the go ahead to another group to

open one again,” said Dr. Slawon.

Minister Othello Gongar, who was also delighted with the proposed college, can’t wait to see the handy works of the first graduates.

“…I want to see your first graduates coming to install my lights in my house when it damaged. I want to eat some bitter balls, peppers, cucumber and other fruits from the farms of your first graduates.

“Your building should be an indication of the standard you have put in place. What comes out of the building is what matter the most. And your success will be measured by the products of your students,” Gongar said.

Edward Kpulun, president of the proposed college, said the success achieved was down to team work.

“We were patient enough. The time spent getting all the paper works and the due diligence was not a wasted effort. We can assure the Ministry of Education and the Liberian people that something good will come from us.

“It was team work that brought us this far and it will take us through as we get ready for our first semester soon,” Professor Kpulun said.

For his part, Dennis Toe, who is the project officer of the Dujar Liberia, said Dujar will replicate the standards it has set at its high school on the Somalia Drive. 

It can be recalled that a high profile team from the National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) at the MOE conducted an assessment visit to the main campus of the proposed technical college in Bardnersville on January 27.

The college will offer degrees in agriculture, electricity (electrical engineering), auto mechanic (mechanical engineering), general construction (technology, civil engineering) and professional nursing.

The LDTC will teach 40-percent theory and 60-percent practical in every department.