SIERRA LEONE-EDUCATION: GHOST CAMPUS REMAINS DESERTED

By Lansana Fofana Reprint | | Print |

LANSANA FOFANA

FREETOWN, Feb 26 1995 (IPS) - EVERY MORNING, VAFIE KONNEH WANDERS AIMLESSLY ON THE STREETS OF THE SIERRA LEONEAN CAPITAL. HE SAYS HE HAS NOTHING TO DO SINCE HIS UNIVERSITY CAMPUS WAS RAIDED BY A BAND OF 50 REBELS MID-JANUARY.

“IT IS FRUSTRATING. I AM IN THE QUALIFYING YEAR AT COLLEGE AND AM UNSURE WHETHER I WILL GET MY DEGREE. NO ONE KNOWS WHEN LECTURES WILL RESUME AS THE CAMPUS HAS BEEN DECLARED UNSAFE,” LAMENTS KONNEH.

HE AND HUNDREDS OF HIS COLLEAGUES ARE IN FREETOWN WAITING TO BE TOLD THAT THEY CAN RETURN TO THEIR CAMPUS. BUT NJALA UNIVERSITY, SOME 160 KM SOUTH OF THE CAPITAL, HAS REMAINED CLOSED.

NJALA IS ONE OF THREE SECTIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SIERRA LEONE, THE ONLY ONE IN THIS WEST AFRICAN COUNTRY. IT HAS THREE FACULTIES — EDUCATION, AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES.

ON JAN. 14, REBELS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY UNITED FRONT (RUF) RANSACKED THE CAMPUS AND CHASED AWAY STUDENTS, LECTURERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF.

THE RUF HAS BEEN FIGHTING THE STATE FOR NEARLY FOUR YEARS NOW AND ABOUT 10,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE FIGHTING.

“THE REBELS VANDALISED THE CAMPUS CANTEEN, CONSUMED ALL DRINKS, LOOTED FOODSTUFF AND TOOK AWAY MONEY. THEY ALSO KILLED SEVEN MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL CIVIL DEFENCE UNIT THAT HAD GONE TO STOP THEM,” SAID A STUDENT WHO WITNESSED THE ATTACK ON THE CAMPUS.

AN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE LECTURER WAS ALSO ACCOSTED BY THE REBELS WHO STOLE THE EQUIVALENT OF 2,000 DOLLARS IN CASH AND SHOT HIM IN THE BUTTOCKS. HE NOW LIES IN HOSPITAL IN FREETOWN RECOVERING FROM HIS WOUNDS.

NJALA PRINCIPAL, PROF. HARRY TURAY, SAYS THE REOPENING OF THE COLLEGE WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER “AND STUDENTS AND LECTURERS WILL BE DULY INFORMED.”

BUT STUDENTS, IN PARTICULAR, ARE GROWING IMPATIENT. SOME HAVE STARTED LOOKING FOR JOBS, WHILE OTHERS ARE DOING RESEARCH AT FOURAH BAY, A SISTER COLLEGE IN FREETOWN.

NJALA HAD ABOUT 1,500 STUDENTS BEFORE THE ATTACK. INITIALLY THE AUTHORITIES HAD MADE SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR SOME FINAL YEAR STUDENTS TO ATTEND CLASSES IN FREETOWN, BUT DECIDED, AFTER OTHERS ARGUED THAT THIS WAS UNFAIR, TO MAKE EVERYONE WAIT UNTIL SECURITY CAN BE GUARANTEED.