Reference is invited from the article published on the Fatu Network, January 8, 2018. “Gambia’s President, Adama Barrow is to be presented with an honorary doctorate for Human Rights from The University of The Gambia (UTG)”.
The last time I checked European universities began granting degrees “for the sake of the honor” (honoris causa) in the 15th century, and the first such degree was awarded at Oxford University in 1478 or 1479 to Lionel Woodville, Dean of Exeter, the brother-in-law of Edward IV and the future Bishop of Salisbury. These were essentially academic peerages, entitling the recipient to full privileges in the university, privileges that were much more extensive than now. At the same time universities conferred degrees on certain scholars whose career achievements warranted such recognition.
If “honoris causa” are embedded in the culture of higher education, then it seems that institutions must award them more carefully. No one can predict the future perfectly. But if past performance has any predictive weight, at all, in relation to future behavior, academic leaders ought to take past character of potential honorary degree recipients quite seriously. If administrators do not believe in the moral obligation to be intelligent, they might at least consider the obligation to be moral, or honorable. Award honorary doctorates to those least likely to dishonor both the institution and higher education generally. Make sure the genius in the portfolio before you has few-to-no character questions.
The question one might be quick to ask will be:
What is the PhD for?
What is the citation in the first place?
What has he done to earn such an award?
Is the UTG in a position to grant such an award?
Is the UTG now politicized?
If the University is pleased with his human right records it will be better for him to be awarded a certificate of achievement in recognition of his effort. Within the span of one year how can you determine the efficiency and effectiveness of an individual?
Education is one of the most important instruments of change in any society. And in order for any fundamental change to occur in terms of intellect and social outlook in a society, it is has to be proceeded by an educational revolution. The term education comes from the Latin word e-ducere meaning “to lead out.” Education is referred as the process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning, and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life.
Please be informed that the University of The Gambia have pressing issues to solve rather than this unnecessary recognition that will not add value to the education system. The University does not have books that are up to date, most of the books in the main library were outdated before I was born. During my time as a student at the University from 2010-2013, there was never a day when the internet allowed me to download reading materials
However, if we want to have better educational system where students learn to develop themselves and strive hard to learn the values of life, we must focus our energy and resources on the university where it all began. We must have the right people with right qualifications at the university and people who are honest, decent, and determined to ensure that our brothers and sisters are successful in their education.
There is need for basic furniture for lectures to take place, the environment needs to be conducive for learning and as it stands the boards are so old. Their needs to be development with regard to learning, times have changed and in the 21st century there is a necessity for the use of technology in the classroom. The University still lacks basic projectile or video presentations of important lectures. In a nutshell, there is zero use of latest technological innovations to help students at the university in their learning.
I don’t deny the fact that The University of The Gambia has produced many intellects, brains and will continue to produce who are able and competent enough to compete in the marketplace of ideas and world market of recruitment as far beyond Pluto. But despite the fact of all those efforts we still need to double up and tighten our belts for a better university we dream that will one day be the last place of hope.
Taking initiatives to refine education without the resources that needs to be implemented is wholly unrealistic and ensues as a misery in disguise on students. A case in point is the “Ph.D.” proposed program. There is not a single reason for what one should appreciate this opinion. The initiative has turned out ordinary to burn a hole in students’ pockets without giving them a good education in return.
I submit to you that if the proposed PhD is conferred to President Barrow I will return my BSc. As I don’t have hope in the Gambia’s first and only University any more.
To be continued………….
Saidina Alieu Jarjou
Alumnus, School of Business and Public Administration
The president is duty bound to solve national problems , seen and unseen. They exist and they are numerous. I don’t know the criteria for UTG to grant honorary degrees. I think it’s improper for Mr Barrow to be addressed as a a ‘Dr’. and I will ask that he retain the one and only appropriate designation of
‘President’ and not make a mockery of the office of President and the institutions that conferred the honorary degree UTG by using several titles like his predecessor the painfully embarrassing megalomaniacal Alhaji Sheikh Dr Prof Babili Mansa AJJ Yahya Jammeh.
May God save The Gambia
Bit by bit they are trying to raise the clown of a president of Barrow and appallingly enough the UTG are holding the reins in that process. Dr. Nuts Dumbo Sheik Professor Nasr …..
In speaking we can make a hault to such actions
Bourne,
When I wrote about the self aggrandizement of this bitty nut in presidential attire some time early last year, you went the furious way of denying and even tallying my account with your usual President Jammeh analogy/allegation.
This man is the typical face, the typical representation of the corrupt Gambian bourgeousie. How much do you know about this man before his ascendency to our glorious position? He was an estate dealer and as notorious of most Gambian estate dealers ( Taf &Co); these human elements are akin to corruption, corrupt practices, influence peddling, nepotism, tribalism and all the social vices that retarded and continue to retard our progress.
Look at the millions of dalasis wasted in so short a time. Is President Jammeh to be blamed for that?
Staying in Dakar for a wasteful inauguration at the Embassy, visiting Senegalese Marabouts to give them millions, staying at a hotel at Senegambia where millions of dalasis were wasted daily, refurbishing the State house at Banjul for millions of dalasis, refurbishing the house/office at Fajara for hundreds of thousands of dalasis, shuttling around the African/European continents with large entourages to receive millions in per diem emoluments, going to the UN Assembly in September with over 50 people to receive millions in per diem emoluments, allowing his wife to waste the taxpayers’ money at a football match in the URR, allowing his wife to attend a useless wedding ceremony in Dakar, allowing his wife to waste thousands of dalasis to the Senegalese Mbalax musician,Wally Thion Seck, wasting millions to go to Mecca with a huge entourage…………..just under ONE year!
All these, coupled with the hiring of unqualified people at key public positions on the basis of patronage and tribe.
With all these wastes of public resources; the Gambia continues to suffer from daily electricity and water outages/cuts, rising prices in basic food commodities, unaffordable education bills, very poor salaries at all sectors of our public services, no tangible incentives for farm produce, the continuous repatriation/deportation of Gambian migrants from Europe and the USA……………
Who can on this forum tell me one bit of recognizable/acceptable progress this government has achieved in ONE year?
The absence of FEAR and night kidnappings by hooded criminals. The disappearance of DETENTION CENTRES. These are noticeable differences that have a healthy impact on the lives of the people. Also, Gambian children no longer get run over by the Presidential Convoy. Great improvements.
Let him call himself: Alhaji Corrupt Estate Dealer Inept Dr Adama Barrow.
Who cares?
We only want him out. He is inefficient, unqualified, irresponsible, corrupt, tribalist, nepotic and INEPT.
The 21st century with its advances in the sciences and technology cannot afford to have such a human waste at the summit!
“human waste”! Please, President Barrow may be lacking in many respects, but he is a decent human being; far more decent than that garbage and low life you worship, Yaya Jammeh.
Lol.. Bax
Its true, S.A. Jarjou. No human life is lower than the one who takes delight in inflicting pain and misery on others. Anybody who calls the despicable Mile 2 Prison, his 5 star hotel and delights in sending people there, never mind the cold blooded killing of people, is a low life and scumbag. And that’s what Yaya Jammeh is.
Babu Soli,
Do I even have to respond to your claims that I reacted furiously when you wrote earlier about Barrow’s self a aggrandizement. I am neither claiming so in my short bit of remark above. It is alerting him to be aware of ways sycophantic gestures can make a clown of a president of him. I think I understand what seems to have go up your nerve in my remarks above. Bax is got it clear for you already. I won’t be drawn into arguments that on one side would be meant to justify the cold blooded atrocities of an ousted lunatic head of a president.
S.A Jarjou, thank you for being resourceful this time getting us talk about such an important issue in your article, but then, I don’t think there is any kind of a lol matter in what Bax stated as well.
It is good to debate professionally rather than using abusive word used by Comrade Bax
I’m sorry if you view my comments as “abusive”. They were only meant to respond to Babu Soli, who called President Barrow, “human waste.”
I was showing him who the real human garbage is… and for your info, Yaya Jammeh, as far as I am concerned, deserve no respect whatsoever. He hasn’t worked for that and doesn’t deserve it.