2009.03.11: March 11, 2009: Headlines: COS - Sierra Leone: Patriotic Vanguard: Bob Press writes: As a current Fulbright lecturer at Fourah Bay College , I appreciate the long-term interest many former Peace Corps volunteers to SL have for this country and its people
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2009.03.11: March 11, 2009: Headlines: COS - Sierra Leone: Patriotic Vanguard: Bob Press writes: As a current Fulbright lecturer at Fourah Bay College , I appreciate the long-term interest many former Peace Corps volunteers to SL have for this country and its people
Bob Press writes: As a current Fulbright lecturer at Fourah Bay College , I appreciate the long-term interest many former Peace Corps volunteers to SL have for this country and its people
"I suggested to Dr. Redwood-Sawyerr that there is a group of dedicated individuals who five, ten, twenty or more years after serving in Sierra Leone , maintain contact with others who have served: the former PC volunteers. Some of them, I added, might be available and willing to come back for a year (or more) and contribute their skills as teach ers at FBC. He was keenly interested in exploring the idea. I also mention the Schools for SL project that Cindy Nofzinger works on."
Bob Press writes: As a current Fulbright lecturer at Fourah Bay College , I appreciate the long-term interest many former Peace Corps volunteers to SL have for this country and its people
Help for FBC
- Wednesday 11 March 2009.
Dear Friends of Sierra Leone :
As a current Fulbright lecturer at Fourah Bay College , I appreciate the long-term interest many former Peace Corps volunteers to SL have for this country and its people.
Yesterday (March 2, 2009) I had a conversation with the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Jonas Redwood-Sawyerr , who summarized a conversation he had had with some recent graduates. He suggested that some of them consider coming back to FBC to be lecturers. They laughed; they explained they were getting much better salaries in town (supposedly at various NGOs, private businesses, or international organizations) . Dr. Redwood-Sawyerr spoke of commitment and sacrifice. He got no responses. I also spoke with the financial director of the University who made a similar point, Mr. Jacob Tucker.
I have seen faculty working hard for very little. Some have been here for many years; others are newer. But they are dedicated and doing their best to provide quality education at an institution with a history for that. The problem is that there is a severe shortage of full-time faculty. Many, understandably, divide their time between more lucrative city jobs and teach ing. And frankly, the part-time teach ers are not always there when it comes to regular classes and grading.
I suggested to Dr. Redwood-Sawyerr that there is a group of dedicated individuals who five, ten, twenty or more years after serving in Sierra Leone , maintain contact with others who have served: the former PC volunteers. Some of them, I added, might be available and willing to come back for a year (or more) and contribute their skills as teach ers at FBC. He was keenly interested in exploring the idea. I also mention the Schools for SL project that Cindy Nofzinger works on.
So I am copying him and Mr. Tucker and Cindy on this email and putting it to the Friends of SL to see if anything might come of the idea. It probably isn’t a new idea, but given the current very serious needs here, it is timely.
I would be happy to be involved in any discussions arising.
Meanwhile, Betty, who is a photographer, and I, are enjoying our stay here which ends in June. I offered to stay a second year and was invited to do so by the Administration; but my home team at the U of Southern Mississippi has called me back to help fill - “faculty shortages.”
All the best,
Bob Press
Fulbright lecturer and researcher
Fourah Bay College 2008-2009
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: March, 2009; Peace Corps Sierra Leone; Directory of Sierra Leone RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Sierra Leone RPCVs
When this story was posted in April 2009, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
| Director Ron Tschetter: The PCOL Interview Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter sat down for an in-depth interview to discuss the evacuation from Bolivia, political appointees at Peace Corps headquarters, the five year rule, the Peace Corps Foundation, the internet and the Peace Corps, how the transition is going, and what the prospects are for doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011. Read the interview and you are sure to learn something new about the Peace Corps. PCOL previously did an interview with Director Gaddi Vasquez. |
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Story Source: Patriotic Vanguard
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Sierra Leone
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