Higher Learning
"We have a medical building with no medications. A library with no books, limited internet service and tuition fees have increased -again!" "We do not even have adequate transportation up and down the mountain." And they don't - Transportation up and down the mountain is sparse. There are two buses to transfer over 4000 students. This translates into long cues and late arrivals to classes throughout the day. Most students rely on friends with cars to lend a hand.
Many Fourah Bay students believe that the only path to success is to to migrate out of their native land and pursue careers and opportnities abroad. And although two very popular fields of study are Engineering and International Relations most students do not have the connections or financial resources to go abraod. However not everyone is looking to flee. "I want to stay and work in my country. I want to contribute to making it better and prosperous.." was the sentiment of one young man. And indeed he should.
I sit in on a student forum where members of the current council are discussing the qualifications for the upcoming elections for the African Studies Commitee. First year & seccond year students sqaure off against each other in a verbal confrontation of wits. The room rumbles with students quoting Abraham Lincoln to reinforce their political points and overthrowing the floor with rhetoric. Here at Fourah Bay the political parties better known as "Clubs" rule the campus. Two of the most prominent are "The Blacks" & "The Whites" which would be somewhat akin to the Democrats and Republicans. Students are passionate about their political parties holding rallies demonstrations and so on. Last year one of the hostiles (Dormitories) was closed due to insurmountable differences arising between the two. This presents a serious problem because there are only several hostiles on the campus, not nearly enough to accomodate even a third of the student body.
Wish list:
At the behest of my audience I run to track down the student body President Timu. He has all the swagger of a leader and faces all the challenges as well. He tells me that he just ended a meeting where the student body was successful in reducing tuition fees to the prior year's rate (about $60 less.) I ask Timu about the success rate of female graduates. He explains that the men excel above an beyond the young women academically and this is reflected in the rate of graduation. He also reiterates the lack of basic needs for acedemic success. I ask if the student body has ever appealed to the president of the country? "We have, and the president of our country is present at every graduation ceromony." He actually graduated from Fourah Bay." I then asked Timu if he ever asked the preseident how he feels when he sees the cuurent deteriorating state of his Alma Mata? He takes a thoughtful pause, turns to me with a half grin and says, "No I never have, do you think I should?" 
I arrive at one of the most historically prestigious universities in Africa, the once highly acclaimed Fourah Bay College. I am just in time to miss the Dean that I scheduled an impromptu meeting with. A chance encounter brought us together during my brunch at hotel Barmoi.
Established in 1827 by Church Missionary Society, in its “hey day,” Fourah Bay College became a destination for higher learning for scholars throughout the continent of Africa. This university earned Sierra Leone the prestigious title of “The Athens of West Africa.”
It was also the first British-style university in Africa. It has since been relocated from its original foundation to a lush mountain (Mt. Aureole) overlooking Freetown. I cannot wait to see what the former Jewel of higher learning looks like. I’m not certain if the blood rushing to my head is from the excitement or the steep (incline) drive up this god-forsaken mountain – jeez!
Upon first glance, it’s obvious that Fourah Bay has lost its lustre, and if you talk with many of the over 4000 students attending, they will also inform you that it has long since lost its appeal. Still the best of several colleges in Sierra Leon, the dilapidated buildings have seen better days and haven’t been maintained – at all. The grounds are beautiful but the buildings are run down, classrooms are overcrowded without air conditioning, decrepit hostiles have busted windows. I will later find out that lectures are held outside at times because classrooms cannot accommodate the number of students attending. However, astonishingly enough, I am soon to encounter some of the sharpest, and most determined young adults that I have ever come across.
I am waiting to meet my friend Lucy who was still in class at the time of my arrival.
I take this opportunity to further scope out the campus. I tried my best to dress casual American and blend in - I’m a 9-5 New Yorker I can totally blend in – right? Wrong!
I am obviously “Fresh meat” and they can smell my “Foreign-ness” before I have even made eye contact. Sticking out like a soar thumb I figured I’d better lay low. I immediately make a “B” line for the library.
Once I’m there I am shocked – “skeeved” to be exact. This can’t be the library of a historic institution? Barely bigger than an uptown bodega; I think to myself, “It would take less than two hours to inventory the whole library…Someone please call Oprah!
I head for a room labeled “American Studies.” There is one towering bookcase with books such as “Dreams of My Father,” and International relations as well as several shelves of American weekly and monthly magazines several which are owned by TIME Inc. However it seems that few students on campus are even familiar with these magazines.
The room is more of a "Study" for students needing "Quiet time."
The room is more of a "Study" for students needing "Quiet time."
American Girl
Lucy greets me shortly and revels in the opportunity to show-off her “American” girlfriend. Gushing, she dangles her plans with her upgrade (me) in front of her throw-backs (them) If looks could kill!
[side bar>>>Ha-ha college girls: do you remember being young & beautiful and totally insecure? ]I can feel the envy seething off her friends.
“That’s ok big shot; you will be looking for us once she leaves you!” Ouch!
[addtl side bar]>>>college girls: remember being vicious and aloof?). The fact of the matter is that you do not see many Americans in SL visiting or otherwise so both parties were justified.
We meet up with Tumba and hit the pavement. I survey the student body. The style of dress on campus mirrors that of the American college student; rugby & polo shirts, converse-like footwear and huge designer-like bags, tight jeans, baggy and fitted, high heels and baseball caps. messengers bags and of course your run of the mill backpacks.
I spy elaborate hairstyles; weaves, braids, locs and wigs - they do it all.
And lest I not forget their best effort at “Bling-bling” Baubles, bangles, and virtually no sign of traditional clothing – none.
Are you sure that we are in the right place?
I go “walk about” the campus and I am awestruck. What was once a historical collegiate centre has now become a dilapidated campus in need of a serious overhaul?
The problem is less the structures themselves but poor upkeep or total lack thereof.
However the tuition fees mirror that of a top learning institution. It's about $600 U.S. per term. These fees may not cover the cost of your text & lab books in the Western World. But you should first understand that $100 U.S. is approximately $405,000 leones roughly.
The monthly wage averages $25.00 U.S. and most live on less than $1 a day. Which makes it incredible and all the more admirable that they [the students and parents] chose to continue with their education. This considering that more than 60% of the youth population [w/ or without education] is unemployed and this estimate, according to the president of the country, is increasing daily.
I have an opportunity to talk to groups of students, who held no punches with expressing how they feel about the quality of the education that they are recieveing.
"We have a medical building with no medications. A library with no books, limited internet service and tuition fees have increased -again!" "We do not even have adequate transportation up and down the mountain." And they don't - Transportation up and down the mountain is sparse. There are two buses to transfer over 4000 students. This translates into long cues and late arrivals to classes throughout the day. Most students rely on friends with cars to lend a hand.They have introduced new degree courses but they do not even provide all the material needed to study and pass. "They tell us to go to the internet cafes in town if we can't find what we need on campus."
And in the best English that education can buy one young man says quite simply, "It's Fucked up." Even with such a burgeoning campus of talents, the job market is very thin in Sierra Leone. And graduates see few if any employment opportunities upon obtaining their degrees. Ask them what their plans are after graduation and they will tell you truthfully no holds barred, "There is nothing here for us. Do you see aything here for us? There are no jobs!" This then prompts me to ask them what does having a college degree means to them? Their response, "It's just a peice of paper."
Many Fourah Bay students believe that the only path to success is to to migrate out of their native land and pursue careers and opportnities abroad. And although two very popular fields of study are Engineering and International Relations most students do not have the connections or financial resources to go abraod. However not everyone is looking to flee. "I want to stay and work in my country. I want to contribute to making it better and prosperous.." was the sentiment of one young man. And indeed he should.This country seems to have all the right elements to creating wealth starting with it's most valuable resource, its young people.
One of the most important questions that I asked every student I encountered was; "What are your challenges?" You wouldn't believe how consistent the answer were from student to student. Therefore I closed each discussion with the same question; If you could address the school board as well as the president and say to them, "These are 3 things that we absolutely need in order to recieve a proper education." What would they be?
Wish list:
Adequate internet service- Adequate transportation
- A complete Library and text books
At the behest of my audience I run to track down the student body President Timu. He has all the swagger of a leader and faces all the challenges as well. He tells me that he just ended a meeting where the student body was successful in reducing tuition fees to the prior year's rate (about $60 less.) I ask Timu about the success rate of female graduates. He explains that the men excel above an beyond the young women academically and this is reflected in the rate of graduation. He also reiterates the lack of basic needs for acedemic success. I ask if the student body has ever appealed to the president of the country? "We have, and the president of our country is present at every graduation ceromony." He actually graduated from Fourah Bay." I then asked Timu if he ever asked the preseident how he feels when he sees the cuurent deteriorating state of his Alma Mata? He takes a thoughtful pause, turns to me with a half grin and says, "No I never have, do you think I should?" However with a crumbling campus, outdated facilities, soaring tuition fees, and a severe lack of basic resources these determined young people stay on course amidst their circumstances. If they can make it here then they can can make it anywhere. If that ain't higher learning, then I don't know what is!
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