The deteriorating effects of Port Loko Teachers’ College
The Port Loko Teachers’ College, PLTC, is one of the major academic institutions that has contributed immensely to the educational successes of many Sierra Leones. Judging from the academic lapses and deteriorating effect of the school structure, there is the need to analyze the concept of leadership as a vital ingredient of educational success and failure within the context of the turbulent changes that is needed to take place within further education.
In defining the leadership structure of PLTC, and identifying those who are the leaders in achieving educational excellence in the college, there is an argument in the whole Port Loko District as to the model of a proper college structure and healthy environment. Such an approach should be concerned with seeking transformational change leading to a total quality education approach in Port Loko.
The current situation has in no way contributed to the college’s effectiveness in improving teaching and learning and the management of educational change. The role of the college in ensuring a more focused education system is shifting to a great damaging effect, as students continue to get poor grades in exams. This not only because the students don’t want to concentrate on their school work, but the fact is that the college authorities have not done anything to make the present students feel proud of one of the oldest learning institution in the northern part of the country.
The role of the College
Like any well structured higher learning institution in Sierra Leone, one is expecting the PLTC to set and practice the highest standards of integrity and objectivity in all its dealings. This is particularly important when the College interacts with others in the country. A patronizing attitude and different set of standards for judging various students from other parts of the country does irredeemable harm.
The College must realize that the enrollment of students without examination or correct procedures has an entirely adverse effect, and this is invariably used as validation of poor qualifications and position in low-grade institutions where it will be of more academic value. Above all the College must listen and act when concerns are raised about issues and not turn a blind eye, hoping the problem will go away. This is why the administration headed by Mr. Borne Wurie should be concerned about the mal-administration going on. Nobody wants to take the blame. Yes this is always the case. But the stack reality is that the annual subvention provided by the Central Government has not reflected on the school administration and the entire compound. There has been no proper administrative structure that lays emphasis on good code and conducts amongst students.
Bad Administration
Bad administrative practice has been shifted to the Student Union where millions on Leones are unaccounted for by past and present executives. The issue of segregation amongst students is the order of the day. Students have placed themselves in different gangs to vet out their social anger against bitter rivals. These ugly events normally take place in the third semester when most students are thinking of taking their final exams. About three Student vehicles have been battered and left to wallow on campus. It is no secret that some Lecturers are part of this ugly games played by lawless students. It was recently some lawless students splashed toilet on a lecturer’s house. Nothing came out of it because the college administration is too weak to handle such a horrible situation.
The College’s credibility
The people of Port Loko are looking up to the PLTC as an academic institution to set standards and provide leadership based on principles of integrity, ethics and fairness. This is because the people have seen that the leadership and professional bodies in their district have not yet evolved or matured to a level to take over the role. The college authorities lack the rigorous approach needed to set and maintain high standards. When the very institution we look up to becomes a party to the practices one is trying to break, where does one turn to?
If the leadership of the College wants to take the issue of maintaining standards, it must take notice of the growing discomfort of many genuine people who feel betrayed and disillusioned. Not doing so will further erode its credibility, causing irreparable damage to its reputation.
Filthy environment
In spite of the millions of Leones collected for college fees and other charges, the environment remain to be a dumping ground where students, rats and bats are living together. No proper water facility has been provided. The only existing water well cannot supply the whole campus. This ugly situation becomes worse in the dry season when students are forced to use water from unprotected streams.
Generally, the entire college environment is not hygienic. It as if the authorities lack the means to either employs the service cleaners or mobilizes some students to clean the campus. No proper toilet facilities have been provided. This sometimes causes some students to use the nearby bush for defecation. Lecture rooms are very filthy, and at the same time most chairs and tables have been battered.
Standard of Lecturers
It is inevitable that when poorly trained and under-qualified people hold positions of power and authority the whole system suffers. Having got where they are through means other than merit, these people are more concerned with securing their positions than in encouraging progress and advancement. Competition is stifled and progress and promotion of juniors is according to their whim and fancy. These poorly trained and under-qualified Lecturers have had a devastating effect on the standards of the college. It is important that the college recognizes the problems it has created in employing unqualified lecturers. The College has not only acted irresponsibly, but inadvertently has validated the dubious credentials of many students, bringing them on a par with their more qualified and better trained colleagues. This needs to be redressed immediately. Many people in Port Loko are shocked that the college is not aware of the lack of credibility of their lecturers. This has given the whole administration an extremely bad name and has further eroded the credibility of the College in the eyes of many students.
The process of employing lecturers should be such that it allows not only an objective but a critical appraisal of the candidate’s achievements and accomplishments. This should include the quality of the candidate’s training, his/her qualifications (through examination or honorary), and their contribution in other institutions. This is the crucial link in the process and one which can make a critical difference in how the candidate’s record is viewed.
This will, at the very least, serve to distinguish those who have been awarded the qualification without examination from those who have earned it.
The PLTC’s core purpose is to improve the lives and life chances of all students and young people throughout the country by developing system leaders and future leaders. At the college we believe that effective collaboration between lecturers and students is an essential part of the landscape that both helps existing leaders and supports the development of future leaders.
It is only the college authorities who can deliver students’ ambition of improved outcomes, with their fully engagement in their education and supported to progress through it. The people want their college authorities to be innovative, to take on wider system leadership roles and to lead in a transparent and accountable manner.
By Fadda Bakish
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