Education Minister Lectures EBKUST Students

 By Abdul Fonti - Communication Strategist - Office of the President

The Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Prof. Aiah Gbakima has visited the Port Loko, Magburaka and Makeni Campuses of the Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology (EBKUST) and delivered public lectures to the students.

The of Technical and Higher Education

 His tour of the campuses in northern Sierra Leone started on Wednesday July 17 and spans through Friday July 19.

This latest move is part of a nationwide tour of University campuses across the country which the minister resumed months ago to interact with University administrators and obtain first hand experiences of the status of campuses across the country.

Minister Gbakima, accompanied by top management staff of the ministry including the Director of Research and Planning, Ms. Sia Fasuluku,  were taken on a  conducted  tour of the facilities at the campuses led by the Vice Chancellor and Principal of EBKUST, Rev. Prof. J.J Momoh.

From right Director of Research and Planning, Ms. Sia Fasuluku MTHE

The Minister's lecture in the Makeni campus was based on morals, discipline and leadership between and among students and University administrators.

The new direction government, he said, is poised to return Sierra Leone to its enviable educational status. He called on all stakeholders to put hands on deck in supporting the president's agenda for Sierra Leone.

He spoke of financial challenges affecting project implementations across sectors, but urged the administrators to work hard towards achieving positive results in the interest of the students and Sierra Leone in general.

The government, he said, is serious about welfare concerns of lecturers and administrators, 'which explains why the salaries and other allowances of lecturers will now be paid by government'.

He called on the students to make good use of scholarship opportunities being offered by the government and other partners.

The Minister announced that his administration would never tolerate the menace of examination malpractice and that he will not hesitate to name and shame perpetrators.

He said the ministry only recommends serious and competent students for international scholarship opportunities.

He said it is a shame that our universities continue to certify students that are unemployable, noting that such must stop.

The Vice Chancellor and Principal of EBKUST, Prof Momoh, whose administration was widely and unanimously hailed by students, lecturers and community stakeholders, expressed elation over the visit of the minister.

The Vice Chancellor and Principal of EBKUST, Prof Momoh

 He used the forum as an opportunity to highlight impressive gains made by his administration over the last one year, which include digital migration and staff welfare.

EBKUST, he said, will continue to support the president's agenda for quality education.

One of the senior administrators at the Makeni campus expressed excitement over the Minister's visit, while claiming that it was the first time in thirteen years that an education minister was visiting the campus.

Staff of EBKUST

 The Minister was happy to receive and answer questions from students, lecturers and administrators.