American Delegation Forges Sisterly Bond with Booker Washington Institute for Educational Excellence

By Moses P. Gibson

MARGIBI: A three-man delegation from America is currently visiting the Booker Washington Institute in Kakata, Margibi County. The delegation, including Dr. Tyechia Philips, Dr. Carlos R. Philips, and Madam Louise W. McMilliamn Siaway, are from the Booker T. Washington High School in the United States of America.

The visit aims to establish a sisterly relationship between the two institutions to foster development and positively impact the lives of students acquiring education at both schools. Speaking during the first-day gathering, Booker T. Washington High School principal Dr. Carlos R. Philips expressed his institution's readiness to partner with the Booker Washington Institute to achieve the vision of rebranding the institution.

Dr. Philips narrated that Booker T. Washington High School in the United States has established relationships with several learning institutions bearing the name of the late Booker T. Washington across the globe. He named Zambia among other countries as a beneficiary of their sisterly relationship. According to him, students of Booker T. Washington High School in the US were able to partner with students in Zambia to share knowledge, a relationship he pointed out led to the establishment of electricity, among other achievements.

Lamenting on his school's relationship with BWI, Dr. Philips disclosed plans to establish self-controlled electricity, water supply, and internet connectivity to be done by students of the Booker Washington Institute. He further stated that his school's partnership would facilitate knowledge sharing to make BWI second to none in Liberia.

In response, BWI Principal Dr. Nancy Freeman thanked the team for recognizing the institution by proposing a sisterly relationship. She named empowerment for teachers, refurbishment of the dormitories, advancement of laboratory equipment, and providing education for teachers at the school as major challenges that will need the support of partners. She further stated that her administration envisages rebranding the Booker Washington Institute (BWI) into a complete Model Center of Academic Excellence.

Dr. Freeman welcomed the opportunity of having a sisterly relationship with Booker T. Washington High School in America; something she mentioned would help fast-track the institution's developmental agenda.

The Booker T. Washington Institute in America was established in 1885 and has since graduated several individuals, some of whom are in both the private and public sectors across the world.