Liberia-A campus-based student political party-the Progressive Students Alliance (PROSA) at the University of Liberia (UL) has criticized President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and the UL interim leadership for launching the university’s first PhD programs despite numerous challenges that the institution and its students face.
The criticism followed the inauguration of the PhD programs, with specializations in Health Sciences and Educational Administration, by President Boakai on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at the Capitol Hill Campus in Monrovia.
President Boakai touted the new programs as a significant advancement for the university and the country’s intellectual and developmental capacities. However, moments after the event, PROSA convened an emergency press conference to condemn what they described as the president’s neglect of the university’s fundamental issues.
Justin Jallabah, Chair of the student political movement, argued that the university has prioritized quantity over quality in education. “The administration, including Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh, who is operating on expired time as acting President of the University of Liberia, and President Boakai have launched these so-called PhD programs to impress international partners, ignoring the dire need for improvement in the quality of education,” Jallabah stated.
He highlighted significant deficiencies at the university, including poor sanitation, outdated science laboratories, and a lack of sufficient resources like chairs and school buses. Jallabah criticized the timing of the PhD program launch as ignoring these pressing needs, sarcastically referring to the initiative as a “4-G PhD.”
Tensions escalated when President Boakai visited the campus despite a warning from PROSA urging him not to. Jallabah claimed that in defiance of their plea, President Boakai proceeded with the launch, resulting in confrontations facilitated by police intervention. According to Jallabah, four students were arrested during these clashes.
Jallabah accused President Boakai of dictatorial tendencies, alleging that he ordered police to use excessive force against students protesting the launch. “Boakai should cease the unnecessary provocation against the students. Despite the civil posture maintained by PROSA during the struggle, he still adopted a dictatorial leadership style. As such, he will be treated as such,” he noted. He also demanded the immediate release of the detained students, claiming they were manhandled by the police.
The ceremony at the UL was attended by dignitaries, including representatives from the Ministry of Education and international observers, amid these tensions and allegations of heavy-handed responses to student protests.
