The President of the Students Union of the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology (MMCE&T), Mr. Philip Koroma on Tuesday 9th March 2021 informed this medium at his Presidential Lodge, Goderich in Freetown that he is the first student to be elected unopposed in the history of students union elections in Sierra Leone, a victory he attributed to his integrity and popularity and pledged to work with the college administration to improve the welfare of students.
The President continued that his popularity is due to the help he gave to students to improve on their academic work, provided accommodation for some of those coming from the provinces and that his slogan for the election, conducted on 21st November 2020, was ‘Don’t Just Say It, Do It.’
He intimated that his 45-member executive is made-up of 40% women with between 16-18 women Ministers while the Vice President is also a woman.
He revealed that some of his priorities are to create a conducive environment for students to learn, construct a Students Union office, for students to undergo medical tests after receiving their acceptance letters to ascertain their health status so that they can be paired with the right persons and placed in the right hostels, to regularly invite motivational speakers to talk to students to concentrate on their studies, strive for the best and be disciplined and that his executive would ensure that female students are protected on campus and not intimidated by lecturers.
According to Mr. Philip Koroma, he would also ensure that classrooms are conducive for learning, encourage students to believe in themselves, organize inter-campus debates, quiz and sport competitions.
He further disclosed that the welfare of students would be prioritized, as all students would be given equal opportunity on campus; generate funds to undertake development projects by first and foremost taxing his executive and also appealing to donors for support as well the administration for students to excel in their academic work
On his successes since his election four months ago, he highlighted the reopening of the Students Union Canteen where good food is provided at reasonable prices, lobbied the administration to reopen the hostels as registration is ongoing now and that the college administration has promised to provide a land for the construction of the Students Union Office informing that the only money students are asked to pay is the capitation fee which is Le25,000 per academic year with the exception of new intakes, recalled that the election campaign was peaceful and that he won overwhelmingly as he is a force to be reckoned with that forced the other candidates to stepdown but lamented that it took a month for the outgoing executive to handover to the incoming.
He further disclosed that he has won the admiration of students for his efforts to improve their welfare adding that he has also appealed to the administration for students to pay their fees in two installments.
For the past four years, the administration incurred huge debts amounting to Le6 billion and therefore insisted that students must pay their fees in full before attending classes but the new executive has come up with a payment plan for students to pay 80% and the remaining 20% fees in the second semester.
He reiterated that he has also appealed to the administration to provide more classrooms and expressed satisfaction that lectures are very effective and results published on time.
On challenges, Mr. Philip Koroma highlighted adequate transportation to come to the Goderich campus as most of the students are coming from the provinces.
He affirmed that cultism is strictly prohibited for which students can be expelled and concluded by informing that the date for the inauguration ceremony of his new executive would soon be approved by the college administration.