A Student movement named and styled “Conscious Students Alliance for Democratic Promotion” has honored the Principal and Administration of the Booker T. Washington Institute (BWI) for their immense contribution to the education sector of Liberia.
Atty. Harris Fomba Tarnue was certificated and gowned by the group.
The President of the group, Siafa Kanneh speaking during the honoring program at the American Corner Library in Kakata on Thursday, June 14, 2018, said his group has scrutinized the workings of the BWI family most especially the energetic and administrative posture exemplified by the Principal and CEO of the Institution, Atty. Tarnue.
Mr. Kanneh stated that in the quest of the organization to foster the main purpose of its existence, it is incumbent upon its members to critically dissect the workings of people who are contributing immensely towards the growth and development of the society ranging from the health and education sectors as well as stabilizing Liberia’s fragile peace.
According to him, since the inception of Atty. Tarnue’s leadership as Principal and CEO of BWI; his group has over the years observed the cohesive working relationship between the Staffs and Board of Governors at the Institution.
He disclosed that they as a group have noticed that a stringent administrative measure has also been put into place where students are no more exhibiting hostility and people are not contravening the rules and policies governing the BWI simply because of the administrative mechanism that has been instituted by the Principal in collaboration with his administrative staffs.
Mr. Kanneh indicated that Atty. Tarnue has carried transformation to BWI, something he said prior to him taking over the mantle of authority at the Institution, people who graduated from the BWI did not go through stringent administrative measure unless Principal Tarnue’s regime where students graduate on the basis of merit.
Siafa Kanneh said they have interacted with their colleagues who have gone through the walls of the BWI under the administrative and energetic posture of the Principal and they have proven beyond all reasonable and academic doubt that they went through thorough academic scrutiny at the level of BWI.
He, however, said the group is a pro-democratic movement that is fostering the quest for academy sanctity, for peace and unity to exist among the student community and the citizenry at large, adding that members of the group are from different Universities in Liberia that follow educators who are impacting society.
For his part, the Principal and CEO of the Booker T. Washington Institute; Atty. Harris Fomba Tarnue termed the honor as a surprise on grounds that members of the group have never interacted with him, neither does he know where their office is nor where they work.
He explained that it was two weeks ago when he received a frequent call from the head of the group relating to the honor thus leaving him with no other alternative but to investigate who the group and how it got in touch with the administrative structure of the Institution to accomplish what they designed to do.
The Principal added that the persistence with which the group engaged the BWI administrative structure made him believe that it was a genius group of young people that want to see Liberia go forward.
Atty. Tarnue said the name of the group indicates that its members are young people who want to work to see Liberia become better Country for all Liberians irrespective of their status in life.
He said the fact that a student group can be engaging across Liberia to see how leaders are contributing to improving the society at their own level means they want to see a model that they can follow to change Liberia.
The BWI CEO described the honor as laudable and said it is not an honor for him as Principal and CEO of BWI but an honor for the Institution, stating that the BWI is this year, 89th-years running.
The Principal at the same time said the honor will further challenge him to do more in making the Institution vibrant, thereby calling on his faculty and students to double up their efforts.
