By Prince J Musa in Kenema
Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has assured students and administration of the Eastern Polytechnic that they would get a university status. Dr Jalloh gave the college the assurance during their annual matriculation ceremony in Kenema on Thursday.
“The Eastern Polytechnic will be transformed to Eastern Technical University which will enable all faculty to cater for technical aspect that will enhance socio economic development of the state,” he said while delivering a speech as keynote speaker at the ceremony.
His comment comes just two weeks after students at the college threatened to protest when a leaked memo to the Tertiary Education Commission from the government stated that the commission should be careful not to “prematurely” give university status to colleges just because they were clamoring for it.
Just over a week ago, students at Milton Margai also threatened a strike action over the same issue.
The two are among about three colleges that have been clamoring for a university status for years, the third is the Freetown Teachers College.
“Kenema and Eastern region is classed as the gravity center for the new direction government and Eastern Polytechnic is the machine for it,” Jalloh said.
Principal of the Polytechnic, Professor Mohamed Tailu Lahai, expressed frustration over the delay to realize the idea.
Prof. Lahai said: “Eastern polytechnic stands better chance to be transformed into University, unlike the Ernest Bai Koroma University which is enjoying a university status under the current government.”
He added: “There is no good reason for the Minster of higher education to deprive Kenema of getting a University.”
Eastern Polytechnic is the highest educational institution in the Eastern region, which doesn’t have any university.
Since its establishment in 2001, the college is now offering more than ten-degree programs in different fields.
In anticipation of their university status, Lahai said they had also introduced new courses in plumbing, business entrepreneurship, renewable energy and childhood care, among others. The college has also bought up to 200 acres of land at Bandama for extension, according to its management.
Vice President Jalloh didn’t state any timeline on when the college would get its university status.
On Thursday the college matriculated over 2000 students. Jalloh also used the occasion to call on the students to work hard.
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