The Booker Washington Institute, one of the oldest technical learning institutions in the country, is expected to obtain the technical college status by 2012, the President of the institution has said.

The institute was established in 1929, and has produced hundreds of technocrats, managers and leaders through participatory hands-on approach to human resource development.

The institute, like other higher institutions of learning in Liberia, was devastated during the war, but its alumni and administrators have made repeated call for the government to raise its status to a college level.

Delivering keynote adders last Thursday during a program held by the Management of Firestone Liberia to honor its 99 scholarship recipients for 2010-2011, the Principal of BWI Mulbah Jackollie expressed the institute's determination to produce competent engineers and technicians for Liberia's postwar reconstruction and long term development.

"It is our hope that, by 2012, BWI will obtain the technical college status it has yearned for over the years as preparations are ongoing for this purpose," Mr. Jackollie said in a prepared statement read on his behave by a proxy, Mr. Moses Bundo, who is the Guardian Counselor of the BWI.

He disclosed that a solely Government of Liberia funded 21-classroom building is expected to be completed by the middle of 2011 to provide additional science laboratories, smart classrooms equipped with instructional equipment, offices for the President and two Vice Presidents of the pending College among others.

BWI, he averred, will however maintain its high school as an entry to the technical college and to ensure continuity in producing middle level technicians and managers so useful to businesses and industries across the country.

Mr. Jackollie commended the efforts of Education Minister E. Othello Gongar, whi is acting chair of the board and all other members of the Board of Governors for their level of interest and support to the BWI technical college initiative.

"We now expect the political will of concerned institutions of Government to move the BWI transformation process forward in and expeditious manner, bearing in mind the economic cost for such worthy venture," he asserted. He then lauded the applauded the Firestone Liberia for recently constructing a hand pump on the BWI campus and stated the long existing relations between the two institutions as far back as 1929.

"BWI relationship with Firestone Liberia has been mutual as evidence by its presence and contribution to the functions of the BWI Board of Governors, and shipment assistance in the past on the other hand, a significant proportion of Firestone senior and junior staff members are BWI graduates making tremendous contributions in various careers to Firestone success in Liberia," Mr. Jackollie noted.

"Just last week," he said, "the BWI family and Firestone staff members jointly dedicated a new hand pump well on the BWI campus constructed by Firestone." The hand pump is intended to improve sanity in the girls' dormitory area of the campus and provide potable drinking water to faculty and staff members nearby.

"We therefore take this opportunity to congratulate Hon. Charles E. Stuart [Firestone Liberia manager] and management in this public manner for this kind gesture," Mr. Jackollie asserted, D K Sengbeh writes/06586531