UL targets 1,000 terminal degree teachers

The President of the state -run University of Liberia or UL Dr. Emmett A. Dennis says the university needs 1,000 PhDs in 25 years, making emphasis that “the gravity of quality education is expensive,” when President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and philanthropist Amb. David A Straz visited UL’s Sinje technical and vocational college named in honor of Mr. Straz.

Before touring the David A. Straz, Jr. Technical and Vocational College in Sinje, President Sirleaf remarked that what was seen there was the power of positive collaboration among the communities, UL, the senators and her government, on grounds that if the community people were not positive to willingly give land, the project would not have been successful.

The college is expected to put out its first batch of 47 graduates in December; and a new enrollment of 356 candidates is expected after they have been registered by the college.
She also lauded Grand Cape Mount Senator Mr. Edward Dargoseh’s support to the university as being helpful to success of the program; before thanking Amb. Straz, whom the President got in touch with after seeing the condition of the college, and has since helped to have the college off the ground.

Prior to making remarks, previous speakers including Sen. Dagoseh, students and community leaders all pleaded with the University to upgrade the degrees being offered at the college to bachelor level.

But President Sirleaf concurred with UL President Dr. Dennis that “we” will need people who can [teach] the students to be able to compete with others everywhere, and as such, it would require hiring people who can teach at the bachelor level.

Besides, she made a challenge to Liberians who hail from Grand Cape Mount and have earned masters and PhDs to render their services to the country by going back to help teach at Sinje College, having noted the Grand Cape Mount people like book business.

Additionally, President Sirleaf cautioned the community people against damaging companies’ investment, as she specifically pointed out that Sime Darby that should be helping their children that are learning in the agriculture sector sometimes becomes victimized when citizens burn its rubber and palm that it spent millions of dollars on.

She therefore challenged the citizens to find a better solution to their problem and not to damage investment, while also challenging Sen. Dagoseh to work with his people to solve disagreement by sitting and finding solution.

Earlier, Dr. Dennis had said the degree being offered at the technical college will not go up until it is profitable and contributory to national development, in response to the request to upgrade it to bachelors.

Also speaking, Amb. Straz said the college was doing very well, as he expressed hope to see President Sirleaf at the graduation of the first class this December. He urged students to seize the opportunity available to them at the technical college.

By Winston W. Parley-Editing by Jonathan Browne