The President and Founder of CEPRES International University (CIU) Gbarnga Annex, Dr. Mogana S. Jr. Flomo, has expressed concern over the exclusion of CEPRES students from the Madam Suakoko Scholarship program.
The program is administered by authorities in Bong County.
Dr. Flomo said, CEPRES students have not benefited from the scholarship initiative, despite the program supporting students enrolled at other institutions, including vocational schools.
He raised the concern during the recent launch of the CEPRES National Transformation Engine (CNTE) in Gbarnga, where he outlined several challenges confronting the institution.
Dr. Flomo asked students attending the ceremony whether members of their communities had discouraged them from enrolling at CEPRES. Several students reportedly raised their hands in response.
He claimed that some prospective students have been told that qualifications earned from CEPRES would not be useful, while students seeking scholarship assistance have been encouraged to enroll at other institutions.
He said, such claims have placed pressure on the university, and questioned why an institution seeking to contribute to development would face “rejection.”
Flomo further alleged that some CEPRES graduates had encountered attempts to undermine, or humiliate them, “because of their academic qualifications.”
He cited the case of a staff member holding a master’s degree, but was mistreated while seeking assistance from a government-related office.
He meanwhile, appealed to government representatives at CNTE launch to view CEPRES as a partner in national development rather than an institution in competition with government.
Flomo said, CEPRES has prepared students in environmental, and public health, which he said, could contribute to national institutions.
He also pointed to the university’s participation in national environmental debates, claiming that CEPRES has consistently performed competitively, often finishing behind the University of Liberia.
Despite his concerns, Dr. Flomo welcomed representatives of the National Commission on Higher Education, and the Environmental Protection Agency at the launch.
He described their presence as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation.
He said, CNTE took approximately two, and a half year of active work to develop, and to integrate multiple institutional functions.
Flomo urged public institutions to make greater use of CEPRES, emphasizing the importance of its goal to contribute to development rather than compete with government institutions.
