GBARNGA Oct. 31 (LINA) – Liberia over the years has been rated as one underdeveloped and highly illiterate country, but the narrative has changed as education has been made accessible, affordable and even free to all persons across the country.
Typical example is one of Liberia’s ancient schools established in 1939 (Dolokelen Gboveh Multilateral) in the central region that Bong County authorities use to forced students from villages and districts to attend to acquire Western education, but today the institution most often graduates over 600 students yearly simply because students are no longer paying school fees.
Guest speaker at its 64th graduation convocation over the weekend, Bong County lawmaker, Josiah Marvin Cole, urged the over 470 graduates to “be excellent servants” as they go into the larger society.
The lone CDC lawmaker in the county has also underscored the need for the graduates to “be brilliant servants” in society as they have been taught by their teachers in school over the years.
Speaking on the theme: « Be an excellent servant, » the Bong County District three Representative further warned the graduates against « unwholesome attitudes, » including drug abuse and to put into good use the education they have acquired.
At the same time, Rep. Cole encouraged the students to not be complacent but pursue tertiary education, adding, « The deeper you go, the more you serve, »
He used the opportunity to also caution the graduates against raining insults at their leaders in society.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker then made a cash donation of US$1,000 towards the school’s ongoing fence project and further pledged his commitment to supporting the institution in its future undertakings.
He also awarded scholarships to two of the graduates, including students Regina Soan and the 64th Convocation valedictorian, student Othello T. Wagboe to attend any university of their choice.
For his part, delivering his valedictorian speech, student Wogboe called on his fellow graduates to be focused and determined as part of values they can uphold in society.
Wogboe further admonished his colleagues to make wise use of the internet to explore opportunities in life and to do away with its abuse.
He stated that the graduation of over 470 young people has opened another chapter in the forward match of the country’s development agenda.
What is now known as Dolokelen Gboveh Multilateral was formerly referred to as the « Gbarnga Government School » located in the Civil Compound in 1939.
While using the building where LOIC is currently located, it was operated as a junior high school and, at the time, student enrollment was compulsory and recruitment was done in every village, clan, and district in Bong County with Mr. Joseph M. McKeever as its first principal.
History records that former Liberian President, William V. S. Tubman, named the school in honor of the first Paramount Chief, Dolokelen Gboveh, on February 15, 1959.
Meeting the educational needs of thousands of young men and women mainly from Bong, Lofa and Nimba Counties respectively, then in 1975 the new building that the school currently uses was erected.
Sylvester W. Korwor, Bong County Correspondent
