The Plenary of the House of Representatives (HoR) has mandating its Committee on Education to launch a full-scale investigation into the University of Liberia (UL) current operational state and budgetary needs.
The House’s decision follows a communication from Montserrado County District #1 Representative Rugie Barry.
Madam Barry called for an increment in the annual budgetary allotment to the UL from US$33 million to US$45 million.
In her communication to Plenary, Madam Barry said, her district, which hosts the University’s Fendell Campus, is burdened with the growing realities of the institution’s constraints.
By that she claimed to be compelled by “duty, conscience, and national responsibility,” to raise the matter before the august body, highlighting the plights of the over 22,000 students currently enrolled at the state-run university.
Rep. Barry cited pressing concerns, including the deteriorating infrastructure; many buildings across UL campuses are in disrepair, posing serious risks to student safety and learning effectiveness.
She detailed the lacked of basic utilities and equipment to include classrooms being reportedly overcrowded and poorly equipped, with insufficient chairs; unreliable water supply; inadequate sanitary facilities, and outdated laboratory and library materials.
Other concern has to do with deficiency of modern learning materials to the extent that the UL struggles to provide adequate contemporary instructional content, such as textbooks and digital resources essential for quality higher education.
Following deliberations on the floor, Bong County District #2 Representative, James M. Kollie, proffered a motion mandating the Committee on Education to conduct a public hearing.