Monrovia – A group of high-profile BWI graduates, under the banner “Concerned Community of BWI Alumni,” has informed the President, His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah, that it has started finding a way to resolve whatever misunderstanding that has led to the suspension of the institute’s principal, Attorney Harris Fomba Tarnue, by the Minister of Education and some members of the school’s board.
In a communication to President Weah, the BWI graduates said they were concerned that as the nation faces some challenges, administrative interruption at places like BWI would only undermine the government’s quest to keep institutions running in these difficult times.
The group said it was informing the President because under the charter creating the Institute, only he is clothed with the authority to appoint, suspend or dismiss a sitting principal of BWI and not the Minister of Education.
The concerned BWI alumni appealed to President Weah to therefore consider reinstating Principal Harris Fomba Tarnue while the mediation effort continues.
The BWI graduates respectfully reminded the Minister of Education that BWI was created by a charter and that law prevents the institute’s principal from being treated like an ordinary high school principal.
BWI alumni spearheading the effort to keep the school stable include Jonathan Paye-Layleh, Dr/Counsellor Jallah A. Barbu, George Sylvester Mulbah, Emmett Crayton, Gabriel Buchanan Smith, and Moses Ahoussouhe.
The group has already held separate and successful discussions with the Chairman of the BWI Board of Governors, Mr. John Youboty and the suspended Principal, Attorney Harris Fomba Tarnue and other stakeholders with the view to trying to find a common ground so that the learning atmosphere at BWI remains stable.
The alumni said they were worried that any leadership vacuum at BWI at this time or any change in the administration could seriously disrupt and impede the flow of donor assistance and donor goodwill which has greatly supplemented the Government’s drive to keep the Institute functioning.