Monrovia – The Booker Washington Institute Workers Union has condemned recent reports pointing accusing fingers at the Principal of the school for alleged nepotism and financial improprieties.
Report by Al-Varney Rogers [email protected]
In its February 23, 2018 edition, the FrontPageAfrica reported based on details of information released by a whistleblower, which accused Atty. Harris Tarnue of nepotism and improprieties.
The BWI workers the allegation against the principle is “cowardice and inimical to the development and smooth operation of the institution”.
The union claims the current head of BWI inherited the institution with divided workforce, labor case filed by aggrieved retirees, heavy indebtedness, and lack of institutional materials among others.
Foday Rogers, president of the workers, said it recognizes the achievements of the Atty. Tarnue over the relatively brief period of his administration.
“He has improved working and learning environment by reuniting the divided workforce and settling the aggrieved retirees’ benefits.
On the other hand, he renovated and equipped vocational trade shops,” Rogers said.
He said the Tarnue’s administration has demonstrated financial transparency and accountability in recent time.
Rogers said a quality assurance department with the responsibility of ensuring quality services through monitoring and evaluating has been setup.
“The administration introduced open budget initiative by taking the budget and its performance to the staff for discussion and approval,” he said, adding that the administration has demonstrated good leadership by clearly developing a detail five-year strategic plan for the advancement of the BWI.
“Despite the gains made by Atty. Tarnue administration, some anonymous individuals claiming to be concerned employees of BWI will choose to falsely accuse him of nepotism and improprieties.”
He clarified that the payment of L$1,000.00 is not an interest, but a deterrent to reduce the level annual deferment as it has financial impact.
“Anonymous concerned employees accused the administration of turning the school into business by imposing one thousand interests on every defer payment, from the budget performance report made to the general faculty and staff, BWI runs a consolidated budget consists of government appropriation and internal revenue,” Rogers said.
“The L$1,000.00 is not an interest but a deterrent to reduce the level annual deferment as it has financial impact. Deferment of payment of the school fees affects internal revenue flow, thus the need to discourage the huge deferment faced annually.”
“The publication stated that students are enrolled in huge number despite inadequate instructional materials, overcrowded classroom and dormitory rooms.
In the faculty and staff meeting it was reported and has been established that the dormitories have the capacity to host 875 students but are currently hosting 812 students over 95% of wooden beds used by students in the past have been replaced with metal steel beds and the four inches star mattresses have also been replaced by eight inches prima quality mattresses.”
Rogers also said the increment of boarding students is a reflection of improvement of dormitory facilities.
“For the class size, it ranges from 35 to 45 per class with few classes of 50 students. Therefore, the allegation of over crowdedness is untrue.”
“Due to the increment in enrollment, the school provides clean and treated drinking water from large faucet containers to commiserate with the enrollment. Up to date no student, dean, or quality assurance staff has complained of the quantity and quality of students’ food.”
“The Union is fully aware from the Human Resource office and the graduation souvenir that this vocational institution has at least ten master’s degree holders, ninety-five Bachelor Degree holders ten Associate degree holders, nine professional certificate holders and seventy-three experience Technical and vocational diploma holders,” he said.