Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has warned colleges and other educational institutions across the country, they risk losing subsidies critical to their sustenance, if they do not consider agriculture production a top priority on their academic curricula.

The President sounded the warning during the dedication program of the David Starz Jr. Technical and Vocational College (DASTVC) in Sinje, Grand Cape Mount County, where she went to perform the official ceremonies on Monday, July 23.

The President’s frustration was trigged when she observed the lack of agriculture activities on the Ricks Institute Campus while en-route to Sinje, Grand Cape Mount County for the dedication ceremonies.

“When my entourage passed through the Ricks Institute campus on Monday, we were indeed disappointed because we saw no form of [campus-based] agriculture initiative as a sustainable endeavour on the part of the school.”

She regretted that this institution continues to receive subsidies from the Liberian Government.” Notwithstanding, the President urged prospective students of the DASTV institution to very seriously take advantage of the technical and vocational courses to be taught there.

The President expressed hope that courses to be taught at the DASTV would be agriculture focused adding, “this will enhance their professional capacities for the competitive job market, be it the private or public sector”.

Meanwhile, the President extended thanks to the people of Grand Cape Mount County for their recent decision to provide additional land to the Government of Liberia (GOL) for the construction of some of the school’s buildings.

She was quoted as saying, “I want to extend my special thanks to the chiefs, elders and citizens of Garwula District in Grand Cape Mount County for providing the additional land for the construction of some building for the DASTV campus.”

In response, several prominent Cape Mountains, who spoke at the dedicatory ceremony, extended thanks and appreciation to the government for sponsoring the construction project.

A 77-year-old woman of Sinje Town, Miata Satta Kiazolu, said, “We don’t have to worry about our grand children’s support and up keep in Monrovia.”

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