Monrovia, Nov. 3 (LINA) – The Administration of the Grand Gedeh County Community College (GGCCC) has accepted the one-month ultimatum given by protesting students to ensure that the nursing program at the college receives full accreditation by the Liberian Board of Nursing and Midwifery (LBNM).
The decision of the GGCCC is in accord with the Board of Trustees and County Legislative Caucus, coming after students at the college embarked on protest action on the campus and major streets of Zwedru, calling on the Board of Nursing and Midwifery to accredit the nursing department at the college.
The action of the students paralyzed major academic and administrative activities at the college for over a week.
The situation prompted the swift intervention of the college’s board of trustees, local county authorities, County Legislative Caucus, and civil society heads, craving the indulgence of the students to discontinue the protest action and allow discussions with the nursing board to continue.
The students in a communication to the president of the college, Dr. Solomon X. Y Jallayu, proffered terms and conditions attached to the one-month ultimatum which began October 25.
These include continuous academic activities and inclusion of students’ representatives in the ongoing discussions with the nursing board, among others.
In a response to the students, the college president Dr. Jallayu, said the students had undertaken a worthy initiative.
On behalf of the Administration, he assured that their concerns, grievances and demands will be promptly and wholly transmitted to all authorities concerned to obtain appropriate redress in the shortest time possible.
The president, however, noted that the LBNM is an independent entity over which neither the board of trustees nor college administration has controlling power or authority and promised to adopt approaches that will yield a more optimum, peaceful solution to the situation.
The Liberian Board of Nursing and Midwifery, in line with guidelines for granting accreditation to nursing programs in Liberia conducted an assessment in December 2017 and August 2019 with the college obtaining the total of 76% of general conditions set forth by the board, out of 80% as required.
The board eventually closed down the nursing department at the college in April 2019 for not satisfying the 80% of the general conditions as required under LBNM guidelines.
The nursing board after series of discussions with the college administration, the board of trustees and county legislative caucus gave key recommendations to be met by the college to be followed by a final assessment before reaching any decision about accrediting the nursing program at the Grand Gedeh County Community College.
LINA PGR/PTK
