By Fatmata Jengbe
In collaboration with the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology (MMCE&T) polytechnic, on Friday 22nd May 2020 launched its electronic learning platform (e-learning) at the Great Hall of the college’s Goderich campus in Freetown at which event a training of trainers’ workshop was organized for Deans of Faculties, Heads of Departments and other staff.
Deans of Faculties, Heads of Departments and other staff were trained on the use of the new technology to enable them interact with students during this global corona virus pandemic so that students would not miss classes. The training will be replicated to other staff and students in the college.
In his address at the event, the Principal of the MMCE&T, Dr. Philip John Kanu enlightened that staff of the Information Communications Technology (ICT) made sacrifices to put the package together free of cost in addition to donating equipments like cameras and tripods as their own contribution to Government’s free quality education flagship project, that his administration is making strides to reach students during these difficult times, that the college has presented its Business Continuity Plan to the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE), that the Ministry is concerned about the college, that lecturers are well-prepared for the new technology and assured his Administration’s continued support to staff and students.
He also intimated that the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education is working assiduously for the college to be transformed into a Technical University, harmonize the salary of lecturers articulating that he would remain focused on the transformation of the college and that the e-learning would be sustainable for the college’s distance learning programs even after the global corona virus pandemic.
Dr. Philip John Kanu furthered that Government’s priority is human resource development, that Government is aware of the circumstances of the college but guaranteed that his administration would surmount the insurmountable reiterating that the new technology would not disadvantage students and appealed to students to have faith in their lecturers who are committed to support them informing that for the first time in the history of the college, its PhD holders would start producing journals.
He also clarified that he is not corrupt as he met and paid over Le3 billion debts to former staff who were owed for over eight years and has embarked on several development projects including renovation of the Great Hall, the Peace Amphitheatre, hostels and other buildings, that he negotiated his salary with the College Council and bought new vehicles insisting that nobody would steal from the college again intimating that the issue of car allowances to staff would be looked into, that the college has been audited and that the College Council is looking into other issues.
The Principal went on to reveal that the fencing of the Congo Cross Campus is ongoing while funding has been secured from the World Bank through the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs to renovate the Brookfields Campus underscoring that his priorities are renovation of the institution, quality assurance and transforming the college to a Technical University and disclosed plans to reclaim the college’s lands at Goderich.
Officially launching the electronic learning platform, the Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer in the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Josephus Brima observed that lecturers are parents of students entrusted into their care, that they must be game changers and commended the Administration for the initiative.
Earlier, the Vice Principal of the college and Director of Studies, Dr. Mohamed Alie Jalloh, who welcomed all, assured that he is proud of the Deans of Faculties and Heads of Departments for their dedication and commitment to duty and finding time to attend the training, commended them for sending in their notes of lessons to be uploaded on the portal and went on to describe the Principal as transformational with the current trend, pointed out that the college is facing challenges but that the administration remains steadfast and resolute to attain its goals.
The college’s Web Manager, Mr. Jonathan Kargbo revealed that the online platform includes the syllabus, that it is user-friendly as they are well aware that not all students and even lecturers are computer literate, that to access the platform students must register with their identity card numbers to access among others assignments, lecture notes and that a special classroom has been designed to video lecturers that would be posted on the platform adding that students would use their smart phones, laptops and computers to access the platform.
He continued that the college also have a page on YouTube, WhatsApp and other social media platforms and affirmed that students would only have access to their modules while zoom conference video technology would be used for examinations and questions reiterating that the platform would be interactive emphasizing that the technology would prevent examination malpractices but warned that all computers for examinations must have web camps.
According to Mr. Jonathan Kargbo, it was time consuming as it took a month to design and also difficult to setup the application, that internet is a challenge in the country but is optimistic that with the college’s computer laboratory they would overcome these challenges.
The college’s registrar, Mr. Sheriffu Bangura, who chaired the event, observed that it is another milestone in the history of the college while Mrs. Fatmata Reider, Head of the Education Department, who rendered the vote of thanks, said their worries that students would lose this academic year has been allayed and commended all for making the initiative possible.
Highlight of the program was the PowerPoint presentation of the e-learning platform by the Technical Team.
