Margibi County – Harbel College President Dr. Syrulwa Somah has condemned a recent students protest that disrupted the college’s board meeting last week.
Report by Willie N. Tokpah, [email protected]
Dr. Somah told FrontPageAfrica Monday in Margibi County that the action of the students was unwarranted and has the tendency of creating bad image for the institution.
“The students have legitimate reasons to appeal for funding for the college, but I do not support the manner in which the protest was staged,” Dr. Somah said.
The angry students on Thursday, August 30, 2018 disrupted a board meeting, which was being held on the college campus.
They were calling for a change of board members, whom they claim are doing nothing to improve the status of the institution.
The students also alleged that the Board of Trustee is micromanaging and instituting a ‘dysfunctional management’ at the college that is stalling progress.
“This do-nothing Board of Trustee does not care for the students. It is dysfunctional under its very slow to act chairman David Menyougai,” Spokesperson of the aggrieved students Jupor Gborkerquelle said during the protest.
“The head of the Board of Trustee must be removed and restructure because he cannot manage the board.”
Despite condemning the students’ action, the Harbel College President said it was unfair that one board member signature would keep stalling financial transaction at the college.
“If the chair [board chair] travels, the college is stranded to go about with project due to financial constraint. The college is autonomous and should be free to operate on its own. The students are free to advocate for funding but their advocacy should not create problem for the institution,” Dr. Somah averred.
He also clarified that board members were not chased out of the institution but rather left the scene due to the disruption from aggrieved students.
At the same time, he clarified that the US$300,000 mentioned in recent media report was never disbursed to the college due to government’s financial constraints, adding that the board has no dealing with such an amount had it been given to the school.
“The US$300,000 was a slip of tongue and that amount was not received. It was a proposal, requesting the construction of an additional 350 classrooms. But due to financial constraints, it was not made possible,” he clarified.
He wants the Board Chairman David Menyougai to build confidence in his leadership, instead of harboring suspicions over his operation at the college.
Dr. Somah further stated that there is some level of progress being made at the college since the protest but expressed regret for the students’ action.
Though their actions contravene good conduct at the school, the Harbel College President believes the institution is under obligation to take responsibility for the students’ action.
Meanwhile, Dr. Somah wants students to channel their grievances in a proper manner rather than creating an “embarrassing situation” for board members and the institution.