admin @ Mon, 2005-10-24 19:46
The new Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sierra Leone, Professor Aiah Gbakima has said that with effect from this academic year there will be no more late examination results at Fourah Bay College. "All results must be out not later than two weeks after exams," he said.
Professor Kpakima was addressing journalists at his first press briefing organised by the university at the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) conference room last week. He intimated the press that he will introduce new and effective systems that will give additional impetus to the quality of education in the country. He disclosed that he has been to the United States, the United Kingdom and other European nations with plans to revive the Fourah Bay College Alumni Association, maintaining that their contributions could help the college regain its lost glory as the Athens of West Africa.
The Professor said he does not admire the ongoing ‘Access Course' at the university and was seriously considering terminating it. Most observers agree that it has the tendency to make most students lazy towards studying effectively for the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations {WASSCE). According to them whether they pass or fail, they will still have access to university education anyway and that is unfair to those who work hard. The Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Redwood Sawyer said the new universities are only separated to allow each one to live on its own and develop its own programmes, but the inter marriage will never be divorced. Professor Sawyer who was also chairman of the occasion revealed that the idea to create separate universities was brought to parliament which acted on the plan without any waste of time. "That shows that parliament is determined to improve on the standard of education in this country," he asserted. The Chairman Tertiary Education Commission, E.B. May Parker intimated that Fourah Bay College in 1827 was the only college in West Africa, but in 1964 it was proposed that another university be added but that was never confirmed until in1967 when government finally blended F.B.C and Njala. A lot of problems ensued however, he noted. Mr. May Parker went on to explain that in 1968, the new set of students that graduated from Njala were not recognized, but when Njala graduates started excelling in post graduate courses, that was the time Njala students gained respect. Mr. May Parker disclosed that the present educational policies should be known to the public because people should be willing to pay for tertiary education. He added that sometimes the lack of electricity causes the bad and awful results that come from the colleges. The Registrar J.A.T. Thomas in giving the overall analysis of the new university of Sierra Leone system said that the passage of the new university Act ushered the new university system. Mr Thomas also disclosed that the new structure includes the office of the Vice Chancellor and Principal, office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Fourah Bay College campus, office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences campus, Deputy Vice Chancellor IPAM campus, office of the Registrar and Finance Director. He also revealed that the constituent institutions of the University of Sierra Leone are Fourah Bay College, College of Medicine and Allied Sciences, adding that this will incorporate nursing education centers, and the Pharmacy Technician School. He further intimated that the Vice Chancellor and Principal is the Chief Academic and Administrative Officer of the university and is responsible generally to the Court and Senate, for maintaining the efficiency of the university. He or she shall hold office for a four- year term. The Registrar stated that the chief academic can always be supported by the deputy vice chancellors in all the colleges.
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