Madam Patricia Wright Esq., Barrister and Solicitor, Friday 29th November 2024, delivered a lecture at the Great Hall of the Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU), -Goderich Campus on the topic ‘Work Ethics in the context of academia’ noting that the topic is necessary and hopes that at the end of the lecture, she would create the necessary impact to transform the educational system in Sierra Leone.
She noted the tremendous developments that have taken place at the Goderich Campus of MMTU, and congratulated the institution for attaining a University Status.
She observed that there is a decline in quality education in Sierra Leone, a country that was once the Athens of West Africa, and asked rhetorical questions: “What happened, what went wrong?”
She furthered that there was a time in the country when people preferred the wealthy Bailor Barrie to the highly educated Professor Davidson Nicol, when students were passed in large numbers regardless of quality, for which the country is now paying a high price; and he blamed students, parents and even lecturers for the decline.
According to Madam Patricia Wright, if ethics had been maintained in the educational system, it would not have declined so low; and she defined ethics as the right and wrong of well-founded standards of what people ought to do, rights, obligations and responsibilities that benefit society, reiterating that ethics must start at home, and that the country needs academic ethics that is essential for any teaching and learning process to fully form and develop, and for the moral purpose of students.
She enlightened that academic institutions should abhor cheating, academic dishonesty, unleashing students who are not fit for purpose, and underscored that academic ethics helps to make scholarly work, promotes integrity, creates a positive learning environment, urging all to approach their work with positivity, imbibe a good character, honesty, be loyal, reliable, be initiative, self-disciplined, punctual and regular, in addition to lecturers not condoning examination malpractices.
She also urged students and lecturers to avoid plagiarism, be dedicated and committed, uphold strong moral principles and continuous professional development, be patriotic and uncompromising, impact knowledge and discipline in their students for them to be educated with integrity all of which would make Sierra Leone rise again.
The Guest Speaker also revealed that students and lecturers must attend classes regularly, communicate well, have teamwork, maintain a high standard of dress code and appearance, hygiene, good manners, be productive, transparent and accountable, and be professionals.
She highlighted that the country has a plethora of bad behaviours like lowering of the requirements for university entrance, sex for grades, examination leakages, selling and changing of grades, currying favours, victimizing and harassing students on political and tribalism basis.
The Vice Chancellor and Principal of MMTU, Dr. Philip John Kanu, asserted that the Guest Speaker is one of the topnotch lawyers in the country, informing that MMTU comprises three campuses that are all under rehabilitation.
He appealed to all to be attentive as such lectures can help the institution grow, reiterating that lecturers must do moral things as they deal with people all the time.
He assured more of such non-academic programs on topical issues of national interest.
Earlier, the Vice Principal of MMTU, Dr. Mohamed Alie Jalloh, said he was humbled and privileged to moderate the program, pointing out that since the appointment of Dr. Philip John Kanu, he has brought in many imaginative programs like the Principal’s Breakfast to update staff on topical issues not only of academic value but of national interest that has set the institution apart from other traditional ones, reiterating that the institution has gone through a number of such programs including the Solade Adams Public Lectures.
