By Brima Sannoh – 4th August 2019
The Acting Vice Principal of the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology (MMCET), polytechnic (MMCET), Dr. Mohamed Alie Jalloh, staff and students, in collaboration with the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL) on Friday 1st August 2019 planted over 200 fruit trees like mangoes and plum around the Goderich campus. This is in addition to the 800 trees earlier planted totalling 1,000.
Among others, Dr. Mohamed Alie Jalloh, who is also Director of Studies, enlightened that the college’s administration had put modalities in place to plant new trees to replace the old ones that have been cut down and advanced reasons why they were cut down, one of which is the huge amounts spent to repair the buildings as a result of the damage caused by the extension of the roots underground affecting the foundations of the buildings, pavements, gutters and the branches that fall on the buildings.
Dr. Mohamed Alie Jalloh continued that the college has planted over 1,000 trees with plans to plant another 10,000 or even more highlighting the dangers of climate change which he underlined is real affirming that quality education is government’s flagship program, the reason the college administration installed CCTV cameras on campus in addition to establishing the Police Post to ensure that students do not spy or engage in other examination malpractices as well as to provide adequate security for especially the female hostels and the entire campus.
Earlier, Mr. Bockarie Sillah, a lecturer in the English Language Department, who welcomed all to the ceremony, revealed that the college started planting trees last year and would continue to do so and recalled last week when the administration decided to cut down some trees due to the fact that their roots were affecting the foundations of some of the buildings while the branches damaged them costing the administration millions to repair reiterating that some of the trees were cut down for the CCTV camera to have a clear view.
The Communication and Education Officer of the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone, Mariama Kamara revealed that the event is a national issue and advised all to take care of the trees.
The President of the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL), Charles Showers recalled last year when they partnered with the college and some pupils to plant trees on the college’s campus and admonished all to monitor and take care of the trees stressing that the trees must not be left unattended.
According to Mr. Showers, with the trees, the college would serve as a research centre and study area for students, encouraged all to tender the plants informing that he is very passionate about the environment, that human beings give out carbon dioxide while trees inhale oxygen reiterating that human beings cannot do without trees and underscored the advantages of trees including serving as windbreakers, fruits, formation of rain in addition to playing a great role in the lives of human beings.
The President of the MMCET Students Union, Mr. Anthony During observed that trees beautify the environment, provide shade, cool breeze and a conducive learning environment, commended CSSL for the initiative and appealed to all to replicate tree planting in their respective communities to protect the environment.
The program was chaired by the college’s Estate Officer, Mr. Paul Samba, who apologized for the unavoidable absence of the Acting Principal, Dr. Philip John Kanu, while the Senior Warden of Students, Mrs. Batilo Sandy, who rendered the vote of thanks, reiterated that the relevance of trees cannot be overstated.
The highpoint of the event was the planting of the trees by the Acting Vice Principal, staff and students of the college and officials of CSSL.
