By Esther Wright
Dr. Philip Kanu, the Principal of the Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU), on the 9th July 2021 thanked God Almighty in particular and President Dr. Julius Maada Bio for what it termed as his selfless efforts to transform the college to a Technical University furthering that Government is investing huge sums of money into the educational sector in addition to paying lecturers on time.
He made that statement at the Great Hall of the Goderich campus during a press conference on the transformation of the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology to the Milton Margai Technical University.
He revealed that transforming the college to a Technical University was not part of Government’s manifesto pledge but a gift to the country as the President wants the best for students of the college and encouraged them to be studious disclosing that Government has secured over $18 million to transform the Goderich, Congo Cross and Brookfields campuses of the Technical University reiterating that President Bio would take the institution to the highest height.
The Principal also asserted that as a Technical University, high standards would be maintained, that a work plan would be developed, that classrooms would be fitted with projectors and white markers, staff trained on computer skills underscoring that quality assurance would be maintained and informed that the First Lady recently donated modern new chairs to the college.
Dr. Kanu recalled that the college is renowned for the best English Language and Mathematics teachers and asked the rhetoric question “what happened?” revealing that the new establishment would also prioritize continuous professional development of lecturers both in and out of the country, that a free website would be created for lecturers to undertake internal courses and resource mobilization to generate income for the growth of the Technical University.
He went on to reveal that the college has the biggest laboratory in the sub-region while other departments and lecturers are working frantically to generate funds for the institution by undertaking consultancies and business enterprises.
Dr Kanu called on all to come on-board the development train asserting that his administration would embark on infrastructural development to create a conducive learning environment for students highlighting that workshops and laboratories would be constructed for practical work but warned that discipline would not be compromised disclosing, “some students would soon be expelled from this college.”
The Principal further urged students to attend classes regularly, submit their assignments and pay fees on time warning that only students who have fully paid their fees would be allowed to take their examinations and informed that fees would be increased for the Technical University status.
He asserted that his administration would provide teaching and learning materials, that students would be banned from the Examinations Office concluding that the new Technical University is to train instructors to teach in technical/vocational institutions nationwide in order to give value to technicians, that his administration has contacted the Egyptian, German and other embassies and institutions for partnership and support and that staff would be re-categorized.
Earlier in his welcome statement, the Vice Principal and Director of Studies, Dr. Mohamed Alie Jalloh said the day is historic for the college recalling that they have come a long way to realize this dream citing 1975 when the college had the wherewithal to become a university after the Education Department at Fourah Bay College would have been closed but that it was not realized.
He commended Dr. Philip Kanu for his visionary, dynamism, determination, numerous sacrifices and commitment as well as for being a fearless and resolute General in the battlefield and also acclaimed the Deans of Faculties, Heads of Departments, lecturers, the administration as well as junior and supporting staff and students for realizing this great achievement asserting that previous Principals did not have the courage to pursue the initiative.
According to Dr. Mohamed Alie Jalloh, the struggle has now begun and that now is the time to work harder for quality and do what is right as the college has now been transformed from “abysmal darkness to transcendental light” assuring that they would not let the country down as the new status is a challenge due to the fact that Technical University is a new dawn in the country’s educational system.
Highlights of the well-attended event, chaired by the college’s Public Relations Officer, Ms. Elizabeth Sesay, were the messages of felicitations and the question and answer session.
