Gbarnga – Ten years into its establishment, the Bong County Technical College will on Saturday, December 19 graduate its first batch of students.
The college will dole out 22 students from two of the six departments – 16 will obtain degrees in Agriculture, while six in Secondary Education.
“The graduation will be historic as our college gets prepared to dole a set of graduands,” Dr. Roland C. Massaquoi, president of the college said.
Since its establishment, the university lost two semesters to Ebola in 2014 and two semesters Covid-19. Also, series of protests from students of the university over the slow pace of the college facility also resulted to the disruption of classes for two semesters.
Dr. Massaquoi during a press conference this week said the university will graduate students on a regular basis once they have completed their required courses offered.
Commenting on the delay in graduating students, Dr. Massaquoi said: “It doesn’t matter whether you have been here for ten or seven years, it’s about completing the required courses offered by the university.”
“The students who will be graduating on December 19 are those who have attained or met the standards of the requirements offered by the college.”
Dr Massaquoi, who assumed the helm of the university in March 2018, said he intends to elevate the college to a university status that will contribute to the advancement of education in Liberia.
He said the inaugural convocation Saturday will mark a the begining of continuous success in the fulfillment of the mandate of the college in producing balanced and well-rounded students that will be nurtured in academia.
“It requires self-discipline to complete in any college or university programs, and it’s our hope that the students who will be graduating Saturday will demonstrate that upon their graduation,” he said.
Commenting on the completion of the college, Dr. Massaquoi said three million dollars is needed to complete the building.