Baptist VP Identifies with Margibi Students

The Vice-President for Planning and Institutional Development at the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary, the Rev. Dr. William R. Slocum says the lack of conducive learning environment was posing serious challenge to Liberia’s educational sector.

Rev.  Slocum noted that if nothing was quickly done by the Government of Liberia, through the Education Ministry, to remedy the situation, he foresaw what, he referred to as, a crisis-threatening educational system- something he said, would be detrimental to the state and its people.

Rev. Slocum asserted that if the current generation must take over the future leadership of the country, there was a compelling need for the government to provide good learning facilities, especially for children in Rural Liberia.

Rev. Slocum, also an educator and a prominent citizen of Margibi County, spoke last weekend when he toured several towns and villages in District #5, Margibi where he presented benches to students of the Dinni’ca Public School in Dinni’ca Clan, Dist #5 Margibi County to help beef-up the sitting capacity of students of the institution.

The essence of his tour came as a result of an appeal by citizens and students of the area to identify with them in the time of need. The Vice President for Planning and Institutional Development at the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary described the gesture as his own way of helping students of the district who continue to be in dire need of classroom chairs.

According to Rev. Slocum, it was disappointing that children considered precious jewelry of Liberia would sit on floors to acquire education- a situation he attributed to the lack of concern on the part of those charged with the authority to provide for Liberian children the atmosphere and tools they need for their educational foundation and growth.

He also described such inaction as an administrative imbalance, re-echoing that the fact that   the President of Liberia alone cannot do it all, officials who feel they cannot adequately implement the vision of  President Sirleaf  by doing the people of Liberia a favor by resigning their respective positions.

He said by resigning would afford other Liberians the opportunity to call to service that will help move the country’s transformation drive forward. The Baptist prelate, during his visit, also provided Solar Light to assist school children living in surrounding towns and villages to study and do their homework in order to perform academically well.

According to him, the essence of providing the Solar Light was also to help less fortunate parents, who cannot afford generators in order to provide electricity for their children who are learning under difficult circumstances. He also donated a wheelchair to one of the children who has been out of school as a result of being physically impaired.

According to the Mother of the child, Madam Rebecca Dennis, she has made several appeals on numerous occasions for the past five years to politicians and other prominent sons and daughters hailing from the county, but to no avail until the visitation the Rev. Dr. William R. Slocum.

Meanwhile, citizens and students of the Dinni’ca Public School in Dinni’ca Clan, Dist #5 Margibi County have commended Dr. Slocum for the gesture, describing it as timely.

They called on others in Margibi County to follow suit, noting that if other eminent sons and daughters were as concerned about their welfare, growth and development as Rev. Slocum, their livelihood would be transformed greatly.