On Friday, 29th November 2024, Madam Patricia Wright Esq. a distinguished Barrister and Solicitor, delivered a thought-provoking lecture at the Great Hall of the Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU), Goderich Campus. The lecture, part of the Principal’s Breakfast Program, focused on the critical topic of Work Ethics in the context of academia. In her address, Madam Wright emphasized the importance of instilling strong ethical values in educational institutions to uplift the standard of education in Sierra Leone.
Madam Wright began by acknowledging the remarkable developments at MMTU’s Goderich Campus and congratulated the institution for achieving university status. However, she expressed concern over the declining quality of education in Sierra Leone, a country that was once known as the “Athens of West Africa.” She posed rhetorical questions to the audience: “What happened, what went wrong?” Reflecting on the situation, she noted how, in the past, Sierra Leone’s educational system had prioritized wealth over academic achievement, citing a well-known slogan: “den say Bailor Barrie, you say Davidson Nicol.” This phrase illustrated how wealth was often valued more than education, suggesting that gold and silver were seen as more important than academic qualifications. She further commented on a time when the phrase “Let my people go” became part of the educational system. This practice, she explained, allowed individuals to pass or be promoted without the necessary academic qualifications, contributing significantly to the decline in educational standards. Those who were promoted or admitted without merit lacked the ability to perform at university or even at the next grade level, leading to an overall weakening of the educational system.
Madam Wright attributed the decline to a failure in upholding academic ethics. She defined ethics as the understanding of right and wrong based on well-established standards and emphasized that ethics should begin at home. According to her, maintaining ethics within the educational system would have prevented the decline in standards. She further outlined that academic ethics are essential in shaping students’ moral purpose, promoting integrity, and fostering a positive learning environment.
She urged both students and lecturers to reject dishonesty, such as cheating and plagiarism, and instead cultivate traits like honesty, punctuality, regular attendance, self-discipline, reliability, and initiative. Madam Wright also stressed the importance of upholding high moral principles and continuously developing professionally. She encouraged educators to impact their students not only with knowledge but also with integrity and discipline, which would contribute to the overall betterment of Sierra Leone.
Madam Wright highlighted the need for academic institutions to be vigilant against harmful behaviors such as sex-for-grades, grade manipulation, political and tribal victimization, and examination malpractices. She stressed that students and lecturers alike must attend classes regularly, communicate effectively, work well in teams, maintain a professional appearance, and display accountability, transparency, and good manners.
The Vice Chancellor and Principal of MMTU, Dr. Philip John Kanu, welcomed the guest speaker and acknowledged her as one of the top lawyers in the country. He also shared insights into the ongoing rehabilitation of MMTU’s three campuses and emphasized the significance of lectures like these in contributing to the institution’s growth. He called on lecturers to lead by example and engage in moral actions, as they interact with students regularly. Dr. Kanu assured the audience that more non-academic programs focusing on national issues would follow.
Dr. Mohamed Alie Jalloh, the Vice Principal of MMTU, expressed his honor in moderating the event, praising Dr. Kanu for introducing imaginative programs like the Principal’s Breakfast to address issues of national importance. This initiative, along with other programs such as the Solade Adams Public Lectures, has set MMTU apart from other institutions in the country.
The MMTU Public Relations Officer, Ms. Elizabeth Sesay, introduced Madam Wright, while student Santigie Conteh delivered the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude for the valuable insights shared during the lecture.
