By Alpha Abu
Tertiary and Higher Education Minister, Professor Alpha Tejan Wurie says plans which are at an advanced stage to construct a university in Kono district was correcting a social injustice.
The Minister made the statement whilst presenting the scorecard and plans of his ministry to Journalists and Civil Society Activists in Bo at a Ministry of Information and Communications’ initiated engagement platform for officials of Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs) to outline their achievements since President Julius Maada Bio’s government was sworn into office over three years ago, and review plans .
Prof. Wurie said Kono as a well known diamondiferous district was never adequately repaid by successive governments for its mines whose proceeds oiled the country’s economy over the years.
To be named Kono University of Science and Technology, the minister said they will from January to September 2022 subject strictly indigenes of the district to a Foundation Course that will upgrade and prepare them for admission into mainstream courses for the new academic calendar. `
The move, he pointed out, was intended to give priority to the sons and daughters of Kono so they could be well- represented in the university’s student register and at the same time, assist in producing graduands who will eventually contribute to the socio-economic development of the district and the country as a whole.
Prof.Wurie spoke about the 2,750 students that were recipients of the Government’s grant –in-aid for the academic year. He said priority was given to students enrolled in courses related to Science Technology Engineering Agriculture and Mathematics or STEAM. He said due to the importance of their courses in developing the country all 520 STEAM students that applied, were all fully awarded the grant.
The minister also spoke about the revolutionized approach to improving the quality of teaching aids with the introduction of 440 White Boards and an equal number of Projectors.
He also made a presentation on the elaborate efforts by the government with the support of partners in putting premium on Skills Training by expanding and improving technical institutions that would form the bedrock of the country’s Middle Manpower base for sustainable growth and development. He mentioned the numerous projects his ministry is undertaking, which he said would improve the quality of learning and help build a crop of skilled and educated generation.
The minister also highlighted the many government- led educational projects that donors and partners including the German Development Agency or GIZ are engaged in, to improve the quality of learning in tertiary institutions across the country that would meet the demands of the 21st century job market.
Copyright © Politico Online 29/11/21
