The administration of the Tubman University in Liberia’s southeastern Harper, Maryland County have apparently seen merit in Engineering students’ recent agitation for more engineering teachers and practicum, following a series of protest actions.
Normal academic activities came to a standstill at the only university in that part of Liberia, after engineering college students protested disrupting mid-term exams, which were in progress..
Reports said the engineering and technology students protest halting normal academic and administrative work.
Speaking to Journalists, the students said their action came after the administration had refused to live up to their demand by providing more teaching staff.
According to the protesting students, they have less than three professors who they claimed had abandoned classes for close to a month without communication from the school authorities on the teacher’s absence from class.
‘’We have complained on several occasions to the school administration on this teachers issue but to concern from the school authorities now they are telling us to write the mid-term which we refuse something that prompted our action ’’ they told reporters.
The students were seen moving from class to class removing chairs and taking away mid-term test questions that were given to some students of different colleges before the intervention of the Liberia National Police in the City.
They also alleged that there were some courses registered for and up to now, there are no instructors to teach the courses.
When contacted, officials of the school administration first refused to comment saying they were engaging the students.
But the university’s officials later said they would provide redress to the students’ problems, but that the Engineering and Technology College would be temporarily closed until conditions are improved.
According to the legislative Act establishing the Tubman University, it is a public institution of higher learning created to provide quality education to citizens.
This institution was given a full fledge university status in September 2009.
Currently, the university operates six (6) colleges including the original College of Engineering and Technology, College of Education, College of Management and Administration, College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, College of Health Sciences, and the College of Arts and Sciences.
The College of Technology began in August 1978, having an admission of 87 students.
Due to the absence of a viable higher education institution in southeastern Liberia, several political leaders and prominent citizens advocated for the setting up of a college in the region.
The people of Maryland County donated the land in commemoration of the 75th birthday of President William V.S Tubman a son of Maryland County.
The University began in 1978 as a gift from the people of Maryland County to their beloved son of the county, Liberia’s 18th President William V.S Tubman on the occasion of his 75th birth anniversary. Report by Alfred Kollie