Gbarnga, Bong County – Students of the Bong County Technical College (BCTC) in Gbarnga Wednesday stormed their campus demanding the appointment of a new President for the school.
The protest started early in the morning when students moved into various classes, causing some of their colleagues to flee for fear of getting hurt.
The aggrieved students told the Liberia News Agency that the tenure of the Interim Management Team has ended and hence there was need to bring onboard a new President to manage the college and enhance academic activities at the school.
The students argued that the college has been without a President for the past nine months, and called on President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to appoint a new President.
The students, who chanted “No President, No Midterm,” have threatened to stay away from classes and the midterm which is due to begin on Monday, January 16.
They attributed the slow pace of construction work at the BCTC to the absence of a President.
The action of the students paralyzed normal academic activities at the school, causing many of the lecturers and administrative staff to flee the campus for fear of being attacked.
When contacted, the Director of Public Relations of the college, Clarence Jackson, said administration was holding discussions with the students to return to their classrooms.
Recently, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf directed the Board of Trustees of the College to reinstate the suspended President of the college, Dr. John Flomo.
In a letter dated December 15, President Sirleaf said the audit conducted by the Internal Audit Agency on the college’s construction project did not implicate Dr. Flomo in financial improprieties.
The President further directed the board of the BCTC to reinstate Dr. Flomo but with retirement effective December 31, 2016.
President Sirleaf has also endorsed the decision of the board to establish a search committee for the recruitment of a new President for the school.
In that communication, President Sirleaf also instructed the Interim Management Team of the BCTC to continue to function until a new President is appointed for the college.
President Sirleaf on March 21, 2016 suspended Dr. Flomo and mandated the board of the college to setup an interim management team and ensure that audits are conducted on both the administrative management and the college’s construction project.
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