By Prince J Musa in Kenema
The Eastern Technical University (ETU) of Sierra Leone has on the 26th February 2022, held its first Matriculation ceremony at the institution’s campus in Kenema with a total of two thousand five hundred and thirty-eight (2538) students for the 2022 - 2023 academic year.
In his statement, the Chairman of the ceremony Dr. Mohamed Combo Kamanda described the event as the first since the institution’s transformation from a Polytechnic into a technical university.
He said the ceremony marks the beginning of a life-changing experience for the students and a new journey for most of them.
Dr. Kamanda assured the students that choosing the university was no mistake but an enviable decision. He assured that quality education and efficient service delivery will be provided by the administration. He also implored the students to be part of the university in building the community and the development of the country and used the platform to warn students against bad social conduct during their period of studies and specifically stated there will be zero tolerance on cultism.
He added that the ETU will ensure the creation of opportunities for local communities through innovational skills which will help them to graduate with improved educational careers.
The Principal of ETU who doubles as the vice-chancellor of the institution, Professor Eng. Mohamed Konneh said, upgrading the institution into a University by the New Direction government was no mistake as the number of enrollment for the first batch demonstrates that the people of the east have long yearned for university status.
He said the university has reduced the burden on students and parents whose children used to go far away from them, in pursuit of a university education. Principal Konneh said the situation has over the years created a lot of social challenges, adding that, the matriculation will serve as an eye-opener to other pupils in secondary schools that they now have a university and that they are to make good use of it at all times.
As an educational institution, he said they will continue to pursue the goals and objectives contained in the establishment of the University which include building the human capital development of the country leading to a progressive and disciplined citizenry.
‘’As a new university, we will do all we could to match up to a university standard,’’ he said.
In his Keynote address, Professor Joe A.D Allie said, matriculation is the formal way of accepting students to be members of a university and that it is expected from students that upon signing the register of the university, they should abide by all the regulations guiding the day to day running of the institution.
Prof. Allie reiterated that the primary aims of matriculants are to ensure that they graduate with impressive degrees which entail greater responsibilities, hard work, and dedication toward their academic activities. He said that students should note that attending lectures on time will enhance effective and efficient learning and that participation in class helps a lot.
He advised the students to transform their mobile phones into a digital library for their academic works instead of using it for purposes that will do them no good.
Prof. Allie admitted that social clubs and fraternity are part of the educational experiences but cautioned students not to join clubs or social activities that will negatively affect their studies, noting that over the years, students have lost their lives in universities during initiation ceremonies by cultic clubs which he said is against the university regulations.
He advised lecturers to be diligent in service delivery, with impartiality and fairness and serve as good ambassadors to the students so that they can emulate positive characters.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (28/02/22)
