BWI has existed
for more than 79 years and made enormous contributions to human resource
development in Liberia. Like other institutions, BWI was devastated by the civil
crisis in Liberia. Hence the immense need for resources to rehabilitate the
institution’s infrastructures and human resource base can not be overstated.
However, we are proud of our achievements in restoring glory to the institution
and the contributions made to the peace process in Liberia over the last several
years. Amidst limited financial and material resources, BWI has remained calm
and operating since it was reopened in 1997 unlike some of the major
institutions of higher learning in Liberia.
The purpose of
this report is to brief Members of the Board of Governors and BWI Alumni on
progress made on the restoration of BWI and the challenges thereto.
II.
ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES
Enrolments
Enrolment has
increased steadily from 22 in 1997 t0 1,375 students in 2007/2008. Enrolment is
1,287 in the 2008/2009 academic year. About 35% of the students live in
dormitories while the rest commute to school from various communities.
Approximately 32% of the enrolment is female students.
Graduations/Outputs
BWI has
graduated over 1,100 youths in agriculture, auto mechanic, business education,
building trades, electricity, electronics and home economics. Additional 250
plus will graduate in August this year.
III. PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES
Internship
Program
BWI had a very
successful internship program in 2007/2008. We were able to place 265 interns in
various workplaces across the country for six months and additional 318 will be
placed this year on job training. After a colorful return of seniors to campus,
BWI had an industrial day to provide opportunity for administration to obtain
feedbacks from employers regarding the workplace performance of interns. We are
extremely proud of the quality of training as reflected in the performance
appraisals by various employers. However, our computer program needs some
attention and we are making efforts to increase the computer training time from
90 minutes to three hours weekly. The industrial day was also marked by the
honoring of 87 scholars.
Computer
Literacy Program
We now have two
computer labs fully equipped, furnished and operating. We have just procured
from Computer Aid International additional 30 computers to establish a third lab
in order to increase training hours. To further improve the computer literacy
program, we have initiated hardware/computer repair and networking as an
integral part of the Electronic Department which will eventually be the
Department of Communication and Information Technology at college level. This
initiative was a direct result of feedbacks from employers and interns. The 2007
pledge by the BWINAANA to adopt the Electronic Department remains an excellent
opportunity to expand this component of the program.
Internet
services
We established
a limited internet service to students and staff in 2006. There plans to
increase the bandwidth in 2008 so that one of the computer labs provide internet
services to students and staff. The system has benefited students, faculty,
staff and community people but in a limited way with glaring demand. The needs
are additional 30 computers, upgrading the bandwidth and monthly premiums up to
$750. This needs to be done most certainly because of the importance attached.
Website
development
Browse our
website which is in a very infantile stage. We need photos and information
about our partners for inclusion in the development process. The Website address
is
bwitech.org. You can buy a space to assist with the premium and
procurement of computers if you like.
Automation
of accounting system
The accounting
system has been computerized for more transparent management of meager resources
and easy access to financial reports and detail transactions by Administration
and auditors.
Automation
of Student Records
We have
automated the record systems in the Admission Office. BWI can now conveniently
issue transcripts and other student records from computer prints.
Leadership
Training
For the first
time, BWI hosted a leadership development workshop. The objective of the
workshop was to improve the leadership capabilities of administrators,
department and section heads as well as instructors and support staff. We are
very grateful to Alumnus Joe Isaac for this personal initiative and hope that
the process continues.
IV. BWI
TECHNICAL COLLEGE INITIATIVES
A National
Conference of Stakeholders was held in July 2007. The Conference resolved to
giving a mandate to the Government of Liberia to elevate BWI to a technical
college. A thirteen member committee was set to work with the BWI Administration
in facilitating the process. Although the committee has not been very
functional, Administration has initiated implementation of the mandate to
transform BWI into a technical college. Specifically, the followings have been
achieved:
Substantial
works have been done on the foundation of the new 20 classrooms academic
building. Ground breaking ceremonies are now scheduled for July 26 when the
President will be in Kakata for the 2008 Independence Day celebration.
Draft
legislation has been submitted to the Ministry of Education for forwarding
to National Legislature through the Office of the President of Liberia.
An ad has
been published to solicit a consultant/facilitator to work with
Administration and Board of Governors to develop an integrated curriculum
for the college.
BWI has
begun testing the water for the inclusion of computer hardware and
networking components into the curriculum to lay foundation for the
Department of Communications and Information Technology.
In order to
address some of the staffing needs, BWI has begun consolidating a data bank
of potential, interested technical people to serve instructors for the
college. They include graduates (overseas and local) and other professors of
other colleges and universities, and technician,
V.
STAFF DEVELOPMENT
Locally, we are
partially supporting nearly a dozen young staff who have made so much sacrifices
and are determined to remain with the institution when elevated. They are
enrolled in the University of Liberia, AME University and the Cutting Junior
College. The Business Manager is in the Cuttington University Graduate Program.
We hired two
expatriates to build the capacity of electronic Department staff in information
technology and to begin the computer hardware and networking training with the
students. Though a good beginning, this is rather a temporary measure which
needs to be strengthened along the road to technical college. Specifically, at
least two staff members need to be trained in information technology and this is
a part of the staff development plan.
Mr. Jacob Swee,
Head of Agriculture Department is present in a graduate program at Strayer
University with scholarship from the Government of Liberia and assistance from
the BWINAANA. The needs are for scholarships and grants to train additional
technical staff members and have been among the appeals to the Government of
Liberia.
VI.
RECONSTITUTION OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS
BWI has been
blessed by reconstitution of the Board of Governors of BWI following years of
appeal to previous Governments. The seventeen members are the President of
Liberia, Chairperson Ex-Officio, Minister of Education, Member Ex-Officio,
Principal as Secretary & Chief Executive Officer, the Ministers of Agriculture,
Public Works, Labor, Foreign Affairs and Finance, Phelps Stoke Funds, BWINAANA,
BWIAA National Chapter, Lutheran Church, Episcopal Church, United Methodist
Church, Lebanese Cultural Union, Salala Rubber Corporation, Firestone Plantation
Company, and the Harry Morris Foundation.
VII.
SUSTAINABILITY STRAGETIES
In the near
future, BWI intends to generate internal resources so as to reduce its
dependency ob GOL subsidies. Strategies include expansion of the agriculture
farm and construction of a mini hydro plant.
Agriculture
Expansion;
In 2004/2005,
the European Union (EU) supported rehabilitation of 60 acres planted in
2002/2003. We managed to plant additional 48 acres of rubber in 2007/2008 making
a total of 108 acres compared to 50 acres in prewar times. This planting was out
of internal resource allocation. Plans are to plant 98 more acres of rubber and
at least 100 acres of oil palm contingent upon available of resources. We have
expanded the livestock multiplication project by adding nine heads of breeder
cattle in addition to pig and poultry.
Mini Hydro
Approximately 15
- 20% of BWI current running cost is for the generation of electrical power. It
costs up to US$125,000 annually to operate generators for only 11 – 15 hours
daily and therefore have to ration training hours. Hence BWI proposed the
construction of a 180 – 200 KVA mini hydro plant on Du River to reduce running
cost. The cost was approximated $1000 per Kilowatt or US$180,000 - $200,000.
Since completion of the feasibility study in 2005/2006, nothing has been done
about the proposed mini hydro plant due to lack of funding. We hope to secure
funding for this worthy venture in the near future. We are in contact with UNIDO
via Mr. David Parker of the Equatorial Biofuels to assist with this project
while fetching other sources of funding.
VIII.
STATUS OF UNMIL ACCOMMODATION ON BWI CAMPUS
UNMIL finally
turned over our dormitories in the boys’ quarters. Unfortunately, they took away
their generators and reduced fuel supply drastically from 3200 liters to 600
weekly.
We are managing
to operate a 150 KVA generator newly purchased from our limited resources until
the next fiscal period. Fuel supply is indeed a challenge until the next budget
period.
IX.
PARTNERSHIP BUILDING
We have been and
will continue to forge ahead with building partnership with institutions,
agencies and organizations so as to be able to exchanging resources and
technology. Presently, the Government of Liberia is the single largest partner
in terms of financial support. We are in regular contact with the Board of
Governors, Phelps Stokes Funds and those alumni of BWI that are in reach, i.e.,
officers and members of the BWINAANA and National Chapter in particular
providing them with updates about problems and challenges at BWI. BWI is also in
contact with Tuskegee University and Prairie View A&M Universities trying to
strengthen existing relationships.
While heading a
delegation of six in Boston, Massachusetts on a US Government sponsored Citizen
Exchange Program on workforce development and job creation, we initiated contact
with Worcester State College with the hope of developing a partnership
that will bring some accreditation to BWI in the near future. Attached is a list
of other potential partners’ contacts that need follow-ups.
BWI has
collaborated with the Public Diplomacy Section of the US Embassy to establish an
American Corner Library on campus. The library is now functioning providing
services to BWI and the Kakata community at large. It is more of a cultural
exchange mechanism for the American Embassy. The American Corner Library at the
US Embassy has been providing monthly training for two of our librarians on how
to use e-library.
X.
MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND APPROXIMATE COSTS
New 20
classrooms academic building – Cost of construction, furnishing, equipping
science laboratories, books for the mini library, office equipment, etc.
(US$748,000.00).
Rehabilitation of existing infrastructure & Landscape – Renovation and
modernization of existing structures, furnishing, landscaping the campus
including pavements, water & sewage systems, reviving existing power
transmission system ($1,280,000.00).
Expansion
of the agriculture farm – Plant 75 acres of oil palm, additional 92 acres of
rubber, improve livestock facilities, increase stock animals ($120,000.00).
Construction of the mini hydro plant – Construct materials, high tech labor
force, low speed 180 KVA generator, turbines, automated powers house,
synchronization, etc. ($225,000.00).
Staff
improvement/development – scholarships for training and retraining key staff
members locally and overseas ($250,000 - $350,000).
Refurbish
training shops – Industrial equipment such as lathes, milling machines,
shapers, cutters, drill presses, etc. for Mechanical Department comprising
Auto and Machine Shops, Building Trades, auto student driver education
vehicles, auto lifts, auto diagnostics computers ($450,000.00)
XI.
MAJOR CHALLENGES
1.The greatest challenge is accessing funding to
implement programs designed for rehabilitating and developing the institution.
BWI is still grossly under funded as the Government of Liberia which is
experiencing enormous pressure to rebuild postwar Liberia remains the primary
source of funding. Prewar funding was US$2.6M compared to the current US$0.851M
2007/2008 GOL subsidy.
2.Efforts to contact donors have experienced a sense
of fatigue and donors’ own development priorities.
XII.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1.The Board sets a 5-Member Resource Mobilization
Committee to vigorously pursue donors and other friends of Liberia to the
programs outlined above.
2.Advocate increased GOL funding for BWI so as
improve wages and living conditions for staff members and to reduce operational
constraints such as petroleum products, instruction supplies, food for students,
etc.,
