Liberian students urged to pursue Science education

Liberian students are being urged to develop interest in the Sciences in their academic pursuit. The need for more students to study in the various sciences has been stressed by the USAID Excellence in Higher Education for Liberian Development Project (EHELD) being implemented by the Research Triangle Institute (RTI)

Speaking at a two-day Open House and Leag program in Suakoko, Bong County recently, the USAID-Excellence in Higher Education for Liberia Development project chief of party, YarkpazuoKolva, said the Open House provides an opportunity for people to see what’s being done there in order to make informed decisions based on facts.

He said the two-day exercise was geared at allowing people, especially students and organizations to have insight of what has been taking place in the past four years the USAID-EHELD project has been working with the Cuttington University College of Agriculture and Sustainable Development.

Speaking to students from nine high schools, employers from various agriculture institutions in the country, Yarkpazuo added that the USAID-EHELD project organized the Open House and Leag program to afford the public the opportunity to know what benefits are available for students studying Agriculture and to see some of the things spoken of during class time.

He said the Cuttington University Agriculture and Sustainable Development College offers Master’s Degree program, which students should take advantage of and obtain their Master’s Degree in the country. According to him, when the initial engagement started with the College of Agriculture and Sustainable Development College, Cuttington had 168 students, but today a total of 566 students have enrolled in the program with some now making contributions to the department after graduation.

He said the program emphasizes entrepreneurship by training people to go and start their own market and become Agricultural entrepreneurs. The Dean of the College of Agriculture and Sustainable Development, Professor Daniel Yarbah, described the college as one of the best currently in Liberia because it has become a college of excellence providing quality education in the field of Agriculture, including Natural Resource Management, Animal Science and Plant and Soil Science.

Speaking further, Dr. Horton, one of the brains behind the setup of the USAID-EHELD program at the CU, said it is a pride to see people that have already benefited from the EHELD program to return and make positive contributions to the institution, indicates a sign of appreciation for what USAID-EHELD has done and continue to provide the people of Liberia, especially the youth.

Meanwhile, students spoken to after the Open House and Leag field visitation exercise have expressed gratitude and appreciation to the USAID-EHELD project for the opportunity to see and touch some of the Scientific instruments spoken of in the classroom, such as various skeletons, laboratory equipment, plants and their various parts, among others. -Edited by Jonathan Browne