- As Faculty Names Lack of Instructional Materials As Hindrance
By: G Bennie Bravo Johnson
The University of Liberia’s second semester reopening for academic 2022-2023 is said to be faced with challenges, ranging from a lack of instructional materials to an undefined schedule.
This is a condition that is said to be undermining the smooth operation of academic activities at the university.
The fate of thousands of students at the University of Liberia now lies in limbo, as the UL Faculty Association has complained of a lack of instructional materials since the reopening of the academic school year for the semester.
ULFA comprises professors, lecturers, and staff of the government-owned university.
Speaking at a local radio station over the weekend, Association Secretary General Eric Patten disclosed that lecturers at the state-run university are lacking basic materials, including markers, to execute their daily functions.
Thereby, citing several irregularities leading to the opening of the academic school year, including the provision of instructional materials to return to classes,
Mr. Patten alleged that since the reopening of school in 2023, the Vice President for Academic Affairs has reportedly reneged on executing his function, something he said is causing serious embarrassment for the Faculty Association.
As can be recalled, the university launched a credential audit on all its staffers in 2022 to ascertain the legality of their academic credentials; the audit report has yet to be published.
Patten called on the VPAA’s office to make public the official results of the audit exercises to rid the UL of “fake degrees” in December and January 2022.
Meanwhile, the President of the University of Liberia, Dr. Julius Sarwolo Nelson, has promised to officially respond to the claims of Mr. Eric Patten at the appropriate time.
Over the last decade or so, the challenges at the university have appeared insurmountable, as they have persisted and sprouted from one angle to another.
Howbeit, many have characterized the various setbacks as acts that deter young high school graduates from seeking higher education at the state-run university.
In the quest to solve these problems, it can be recalled that on October 24, 2018, President George W. Bush declared tuition free for undergraduates at all state-owned universities.
The president’s pronouncement came to ease tension between the University of Liberia’s students and the administration over the increment in credit hour fee from L$400 to L$600 per credit hour and to ensure the smooth operation of the university.
However, it appears that the president’s free tuition is being undermined by several other challenges at the university, as the problems continue to spring up one after the other.
