By J. Peter S. Dennis, dennisrealone@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- Bong County Technical College in the central this central city is expected to hold its second graduation ceremony this week.
The convocation will take place on Wednesday, December 29, 2021 in Gbarnga.
The institution will graduate at least 81 students from three disciplines.
They are: education (30) students, general agricultural technology (48) students and Mining engineering, three students.
According to Mr. Moses Barwror, the Dean of student services and acting Public Relations Officer, Liberia’s vice president, Chief Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor will serve as the institution’s second commencement speaker while other high profile government officials are expected to grace the occasion.
Its first convocation witnessed the granting of Bachelor of Science degrees to twenty students- 6 students in Secondary Education while 14 from the General Agricultural Technology department last year December.
The tertiary institution offers a regular four (4) years to achieve the either of the following:
Bachelor of Science in Mining engineering, Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Technology, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Science in Information Technology.
Background
Since its establishment, the university lost two semesters to Ebola in 2014 and two semesters Covid-19. Also, series of protests from students of the university over the slow pace of the college facility also resulted to the disruption of classes for two semesters.
The Bong County Technical College (BCTC) is an offshoot of the erstwhile Dolokelen Gboveh Community College, which was established in 2010. The college assumed the name BCTC in 2013, and in 2015, an Act was passed to make the college a legal corporate entity.
BCTC’s goal is to create access to training in technical skills and undergraduate degree programs for inhabitants of Bong County.
The College, however, lacked the structure to adequately house its students therefore, in 2010 it was decided that a two-storey, two-winged building be erected for both administrative and academic purposes.
The College’s construction is believed to be in the tone of US$7,604,926.97, but it’s not fully completed as there are ongoing works to complete the institution despite the challenges.