PHOTO: Principal Harris Tarnue
By Moses M. Tokpah, mosesmtokpah@gmail.com
KAKATA, Liberia- The Principal of the Booker T. Washington Institute (BWI), Atty. Harris Fomba Tarnue has outlined some of the achievements made by the Institute.
He was speaking at the combined graduation exercise of the Regular Secondary and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), the Post-Seconday and Professional Program (PSPP), and the Japan Heavy Equipment Operator School (JHEOS).
Atty. Tarnue said through their joint efforts as education and training providers and facilitators as well as administrators, managers, partners and stakeholders they together made several accomplishments possible.
According to him, since the graduation one year ago, they have made significant progress in creating the more conducive training and learning environment at the institution.
He named the construction of a ground stand (graduation platform) which is a gift from the recent graduates and current senior students of the regular program of BWI as one of the achievements.
Latest BWI graduates
The BWI Principal added that with the support of bilateral and development partners, the institution is currently completing the second phase of training of 50 young men and women in road maintenance and construction been supervised by the German Technical Aid Corporation (GIZ) with funding from the Swedish Government in concert with the Association of Liberian Construction Contractor, a program he noted will soon transition to a private training center in Bentol at the end of the current training period.
BWI has continued the training of young people at the Japan Heavy Equipment Operator School since July 2018 when the program was turned over to BWI by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the principal said.
“Today, we are proud to report that BWI has proven to be competent and capable of running this internationally established training institution where we’re going to see today over one hundred young people completing their training in heavy equipment operation and maintenance,” Atty. Tarnue said.
The BWI principal also explained that their biggest trust in post war TVET development in Liberia is the European Union TVET support which provides over twenty million United States dollars under the project code name ‘Youth Rising Project’.
He disclosed that this multi-million dollars intervention commence massive renovation works on infrastructure at BWI including the Mechanical Workshop, the Automotive Department, the Carpentry, the Electrical Department as well as a TVET Teacher Training Center and Research Center which is expected to begin soon this year.
Principal Tarnue continued: “We glad to report that the renovation is at 98 percent complete and as we approach March 2022 we expect the installation of modern training equipment as they renovate facilities here at BWI campus.”
He said during the academic year 2020/2021, BWI was one of the recipients of a World Bank and International Development Agency (IDA) grant under the project ‘Improving Result In Secondary Education (IRISE) project which identified renovation of the plumbing and Pipe Fitting Technology Trade Shop with an approved grant of fifty-five thousand United States dollars.
Atty. Tarnue asserted that the contractor has completed the first stage of renovation while awaiting transfer of the second payment to continue works on the plumbing trade shop.
The Principal said BWI remains grateful for the grant and extend thanks to the World Bank and IDA, and specifically to the Ministry of Education and other Agencies that are working with them to take quality infrastructure in the public school system across Liberia.
He said during the just ended academic year, BWI concluded a memorandum of understanding with the International Development Corporation (IECD) to make intervention in providing training equipment, trainer of trainers and other support to the electrical department at the institution.
Over 400 students graduate
At the same time, BWI over the weekend graduated a little over four hundred and fifty students in various disciplines.
Some of the disciplines include Agriculture, Automotive Mechanic, Electricity, Electronics, Carpentry Technology, Drafting Technology, Masnory, Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Technology, Mechanical and Machinery Technology, Business Accounting, Secretariat Science and Domestic Science as well as those who completed professional training in heavy equipment and maintenance.
Meanwhile, the Principal and Executive Officer of BWI has termed as a milestone achievement the completion of academic and TVET studies by the Regular Secondary TVET students, the Post-Secondary TVET Program and the professional training in heavy equipment and maintenance in the Japan Heavy Equipment Operator School.
“In addition, we have satisfactorily completed all required work prescribed by the Ministry of Education, approved curriculum of the Institute and today we are graduating 167 Regular Secondary school students, 146 Post-Seconday school students and 163 students from the Japan Heavy Equipment Operator School
BWI administration says it is grateful to God for keeping the doors of BWI open where they secured a successful academic year 2021 without a single incident of students or employees unrest, agitation or case of COVID-19 reported among staff and students.
Atty. Tarnue lauded the national government, parents and sponsors of the students, development partners, stakeholders and the educational sector for the supports to the Institute.
He said BWI in affiliation and partnership with Liberia’s flagship tertiary institution, the University of Liberia is conducting activity which will lead to the award of an Associate of Science (ASC) and Associate of Act (AA Degree) in initially select technical trade to include agronomy, agriculture extension education, animal house boundary, electrical engineering and accountancy.
The BWI Principal added that with the process now advanced to administering trial, placement and admission test, it’s the administration’s commitment to jumpstart the program in the shortest possible time.
He reported that his administration has resolved to start the program noting that they were given a decisive approval by the Board of Governors of BWI at its meeting in August of 2021 something he said received further approval with an overwhelming vote by the faculty Senate of the University of Liberia when they voted overwhelmingly to approve the curricular and the petition for BWI to award the two degrees in conjunction with the University.
“Notwithstanding this commitments and initiatives, the start of the new program is being challenged by poor results from the trial entrance and placement test we have administered so far in February 2022,”.
Mr. Tarnue lauded the Chairman Ex-Officio of the Board of Governors, the Government and people of the Republic of Liberia headed by Dr. George Manneh Weah for the continued support to BWI, and for the continues confidence repost in his administration as it continues to provide leadership and stir the affairs of the Institute.
He also extended thanks and appreciation to the Ministry of Education for the support to the BWI.