By Elias Bangura, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Eastern Polytechnic is set to be the first university in the east of Sierra Leone, according to its acting principal, Francis G. Allieu.
He made this disclosure to the Parliamentary Education Committee on 22 July in Kenema while the committee was on a working visit to educational institutions in the east (photo).
“On the transformation of this polytechnic into a university – it was President Koroma who first said it to us,” Mr. Allieu disclosed. “Presently we are putting together a document for the Tertiary Education Committee about this. And once we are done, we will forward it to them to consider making the Eastern Polytechnic as the first university for the east.”
Hon Muluku Sulaiman, Chairman of the Committee, said there is a point to this because there is N’jala University in the south, and University of Makeni in the north; as such the east is entitled to one also.
Eastern Polytechnic has come a long way to its present position of being relevant to today’s middle level employment market.
Since 1991 when it relocated to Kenema from Bunumbu (then Bunumbu Teachers College), it has continued to climb upwards. It has two campuses (at Bunumbu and at Kenema), including a third at Kono which is presently under renovation. It is offering two training programs – one on campus, and the other in distance learning.
“By 1994,” continued Mr. Allieu, “we had obtained permission to offer a head teacher’s certificate for both primary and secondary. In 2001, we started offering degree programs, and in 2004 we saw the need for nurses training courses – which, like the degree programs, are also going well. Student population is 2755 regular and 320 doing distance education.”
The Eastern Polytechnic presently has five faculties – education, basic and applied sciences, school of nursing and medical laboratory sciences; also faculty of engineering, business and management studies, and distance education program.
For its bachelor of engineering program, candidates start the first two years there and on the third year proceed to Fourah Bay College where they will continue until graduation in the fourth year (two sets has graduated presently).
But the polytech has a lot of challenges – ranging from lack of laboratories to lack of dormitories.
The Registrar, Adonis Kanneh, said the government has a lot of commitments, which is why they are not blaming them for not taking the polytech on board yet.
“But we are exploring all possibilities to make us move on,” he said. “President Koroma before now made some donation to us, which we used to rehabilitate some classrooms, a health centre and a few staff quarters. We also undertook some projects on a library since we didn’t have one, and in fencing our compound. We have also approached Nassit for them to invest in building dormitories for us, including the Kenema District Council (KDC). As for the KDC, we want them to start in the next academic year because students are faced with a serious challenge of accomodation, including members of staff.”
“Student number is increasing,” said Principal Allieu, “so we are constrained with insufficient materials. Yes, we have made linkages with industries to have industrial trainings for our students. Yes, student numbers have increased in the sciences, andwe may not have the equipment, but we make sure that students are using the equipment in the institution where they are going in to work. And as for those who are not getting this training experience like teachers for example, we have two laboratories where we teach them practicals.”
Government’s commitment, he continued, has been on a steady rise, and he is sure this will continue because, for example, in 2009 they were given Le2.9 billion as subvention – in 2010, it was Le3.4 billion; 2011 -Le3.8bn; 2012, Le7.4bn; and in 2013, Le 8.9 billion (they have received Le4.475billion as of July 2012).
“For the generation of school funds – in 2009 we raised Le 2 billion; in 2010 Le 2.7 billion; in 2011 Le 2.3 billion 2012 Le 2.8 billion; and as of January to 22 July 2013 we have raised Le975 million.”
In their response members of the Committee said it is indeed important to know what is going on especially as polytcechnics are at the centre of middle man power training.
Hon James ND Allie said we should try to promote the sciences in schools, and there are hardly laboratory practicals for students – this should change to let students improve on practicals.
Hon Dr. Abdulair Sesay said the decline in the teaching of sciences is affecting Sierra Leone.
“I commend Eastern Polytechnic for establishling a laboratory; without a good laboratory you cannot be a good doctor; continue to improve on your laboratory; the problem of science teaching is more a problem of African countries because they cannot afford it; but it is very necessary.”
Hon Mowai Momoh said he commends the government for assisting this polytechnic
“But you don’t have to rely on government alone, try and partner with other institutions and learn from them.”
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