Liberia’s premier technical and vocational institute, Booker Washington Institute situated in Kakata, Margibi County is calling on the government to grant it full university status in order to deliver adequately and efficiently to the public.
BWI currently offers associate degree and diploma programs to Liberia’s youthful population.
Ramsey N Singbeh Jr
Kakata, Margibi County, Liberia, February 28, 2024 – The Booker Washington Institute, which is a modeling center for T-VET Education here situated in Kakata, Margibi County is calling on the government to elevate the Institute to university status.
BWI craves the government’s full support during the first term of President Joseph Boakai.
Speaking recently during the school’s graduation, BWI Principal Attorney Harris Fumba Tarnue said: “We request the government under your leadership to give full support to BWI’s elevation to Liberia’s first T-VET University in your first term and probably in your first year of your leadership. We make this open request additionally with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to timely restore the grant status to BWI which was removed by the outgoing leadership at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.”
Principal Tarnue assured that with the restoration of the grant status, the Institute’s autonomy will be in full swing to even deliver better T-VET education to Liberian youth.
He said with the support of BWI’s Development Partners and looking forward to the support of the government, BWI can turn the policy statement of President Boakai into practical reality.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]
He noted that without doubt, the institution’s mechanical workshop with funding from the EU under UNIDO’s implemented Youth Rising Project is ready to partner with the government to fulfill the national development policy.
He continued that they have greeted the ascendency of President Boakai with favorable policy statement that talks about turning BWI into a technical institution that will produce most of the agricultural machines that will make life easier for farmers.
On Saturday, February 24, 2024, graduated 452 young men and women after completion of studies in various vocational skills.
The graduation ceremony took place on the main campus of the BWI on Saturday, February 24, 2024, with students, parents, BWI Administration and Board, Margibi County authorities, and partners in attendance.
The graduates include 234 males and females from the regular secondary T-VET program, 203 from the post-secondary T-VET and professional studies program, and 15 from the domestic science short-term and skill training program, respectively, totaling 452.
The graduates are from the business department that offers Accounting, Secretarial Science, and Domestic Science. Others came from the building trade department, which offers plumbing, masonry, and carpentry, the Automotive and machinery department, Agriculture department, Electricity and Electronic departments.
BWI Principal Harris Fumba Tarnue, says the graduates completed the prescribed curriculum from the Ministry of Education.
He says with the support of the government and development partners, the institution continues to make success in its efforts to building the capacity of the administrative and instructional staff.
According to Mr. Tarnue, currently he anticipates return of six of his staff, who are studying in China.
He disclosed that eight of instructors are competing dual Master’s program that is funded by the European Union and the Swedish Fund under the Youth Rising Program at Han University in Finland.
He adds that T-VET instructors who have been training in Kenya, Zambia and South Africa have returned home with specialization in automotive, carpentry, machinery and information technology, among other skills.
Named in memory of late Afro-America scholar and educator, BWI is Liberia’s leading technical and vocational institution founded in 1929 under the administration of late President Charles Dunbar Burgess King. Editing by Jonathan Browne
