By Theresa Kef Sesay
Recently, the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology (MMCE&T) polytechnic, acquired state-of-the-art science equipment to advance the science laboratory in the college.
Dr. Alhaji Ibrahim Sankoh, Head of the Science Laboratory at the college disclosed that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) donated modern equipment worth over 36, 000 Euros to the college to improve the science laboratory, enlightening that the donated equipment has put the college on a sound footing to become one of the best science laboratories in the country.
He further explained that the acquisition of the modern equipment has empowered them to train students to become the most excellent laboratory technicians knowledgeable to use different types of modern equipment and recalled recently when the college launched its newly-acquired DNA machine, the only college/institution with the state-of-the-art laboratory machine and that the college is proud to soon produce the best students well-trained to operate the DNA machines.
Dr. Alhaji Ibrahim Sankoh reiterated that acquisition of these equipment is a clear indication that the college not only teaches science subjects but puts premium on practicals and guaranteed that its science products who are well grounded would excel anywhere in the world reiterating that laboratory technicians trained at the college would be on top of the situation anywhere they find themselves in areas like bacteriology and histopathology work, clinical chemistry etc noting that their students would be effectively trained to even diagnose, separate and isolate blood using the DNA machine.
Dr. Sankoh further disclosed that the newly-acquired modern equipment including auto calves, sterilized and Pivet machines would enable them to train students on modern techniques and further boasted that the college now has microchemistry kits with over 300 types of experiment making the college laboratory the best in the country.
“The DNA machine is very new. It measures protein. The DNA machine is not just an ordinary machine. It separates and isolates blood i.e. RNA & DNA. We will experiment on animals because we do not have the authority to do so on humans. For the work to be ongoing and the ability to produce well-trained and qualified students, the college is partnering with other countries like Vienna in Austria, Nigeria and Ghana,” he articulated.
He further disclosed that the college and Nigeria are partnering with one of the biggest Research Ventinery Institutes in Nigeria, that in three months times, experts would come and train them on how to use some of the machines to produce the best science students in the country and informed that he recently returned from Nigeria where they commended MMCE&T for efforts to improve the standard of teaching sciences in the college and told them that all is being done by the administration to transform the college to a Technical University.
Dr. Alhaji Ibrahim Sankoh also disclosed that recently they sent four people for advanced training and that another two are abroad while their partners have requested for two more people to be trained.
According to Dr. Sankoh, their number one priority is to transform the college to a Technical University and commended the Principal of the college, Dr. Philip John Kanu for his transparency, hard work and commitment to duty to transform the college to an enviable institution of learning affirming that staff and students hold him in high esteem for always delivering on his promises in addition to being motivational, zealous and ambitious to lift the college to higher heights.
