Forestry Training Institute GETS ‘AA’ DEGREE STATUS
By: Aminata S. Kromah
aminatakromah116@gmail.com
Bomi County-The National Commission on Higher Education has officially granted the Forestry Training Institute an associate degree status. FTI is currently offering agricultural training courses in Tubmanburg, Bomi County.
The NCHE decision made the presentation during a program held on Wednesday, January 17,2024 which brought together local and national officials, students, local and international organizations amongst others.
Speaking when he officially presented the license to the board and executive director of the institution, Dr.Edward Lama Wonkeryor, the director general of the Commission noted that the granting of the permit came as a result of the FTI’s request to offer an associate of arts degree in the County.
He further noted that upon receiving the request from the institution, the board dispatched a team to verify all requirements in obtaining an “AA” degree status something he said the Forestry Training Institute has satisfactory met.
The Executive Director on behalf of the board then presented the official permit to the institution executive director to offer an AA degree in general, conservation, commerical and community forestries among others.
Dr. Lama Wonkeryor at the same time cautioned the FTI family to remain engaged with the NCHE for continuous monitoring and evaluation of its institution inorder to ensure that it is in full compliance with the set standard of higher education policy in Liberia.
Also speaking, FTI Executive Director of the Forestry Training Institute Joel D. Gamys lauded the NCHE for what he described as hope and relieve to students and would be students across the Country.
He also commended the United States Agency for International Development, United Nations Development Program, the Society for the Conservation of Nature in Liberia, the United States Forest Sector among several others partners in bringing the dream of the institution to realities.
Speaking in exciting tones, several students of the Forestry Training Institute bestowed praises on the administration and the board of the NCHE.
They further used the occasion to call on their colleagues to take advantage of the institution as it has now being upgraded to another level.
The granting of the associates of arts degree to the institution followed numerous calls during commencement convocation for the upgrading of the school.
With the latest development,the institution will now serve as a conduit of knowledge in tertiary education especially in the forest sector across Liberia.
The Forestry Training Institute was established by the Mano River Union in 1977 as a result of regional collaboration and initiative which was later incorporated in the MRU training institutions in member States Country.
The school, since 2006 has been operating under the government of Liberia through the Forestry Development Authority awarding diplomas in general forestry with emphasis in conservation, commerical and community forestries among others.
