Friday, December 01, 2006
Part Time Worker ~ Full Time Student
I remember when I was a student and an employee of the Republic of Liberia in the seventies. I was a full time student at the Holy Cross Mission High School in Bolahun, Lofa County during the school term, and worked for the Liberian government during the vacation period as a vacation student at the Bureau of the Budget. When I graduated from high school and matriculated to the University of Liberia, I continued my work at the Bureau of the Budget as a cadet, (a trainee in a business or profession).
The cadet system was used within the governmental framework, to train students who would be promoted to higher positions or receive appointments as they progress through their training after graduation from the institutions of higher learning. A cadet was considered a part time government employee and a full time student and was paid a stipend that was considered as a financial aide.
High-ranking government officials who want to take up the challenge of higher education should do it on their own time with the continual education program and not on the government time during the normal government working hours. If one attends classes during the government working hours of eight to four, he should be considered a cadet and be paid as a cadet. Government officials who were elected by the people or appointed by the chief executive to serve the people as full time government employees and are also full time students and receiving full time pay for work that they are not employing themselves to on a full time basis should make restitution. I suggest that these high-ranking government personnel return a portion of their salaries and other immunities to the Liberian government since they are in truth full time students and not full time government employees.
I do not frown on higher education nor do I envy anyone who seeks such an education; on the contrary, I encourage higher education, vocational training, apprenticeship programs, craftsmanship program and the like, since any kind of career building skill and personal achievement of all Liberians will build the country from its present state to one that is second to none in the world. This is my dream and vision.
The cadet system was used within the governmental framework, to train students who would be promoted to higher positions or receive appointments as they progress through their training after graduation from the institutions of higher learning. A cadet was considered a part time government employee and a full time student and was paid a stipend that was considered as a financial aide.
High-ranking government officials who want to take up the challenge of higher education should do it on their own time with the continual education program and not on the government time during the normal government working hours. If one attends classes during the government working hours of eight to four, he should be considered a cadet and be paid as a cadet. Government officials who were elected by the people or appointed by the chief executive to serve the people as full time government employees and are also full time students and receiving full time pay for work that they are not employing themselves to on a full time basis should make restitution. I suggest that these high-ranking government personnel return a portion of their salaries and other immunities to the Liberian government since they are in truth full time students and not full time government employees.
I do not frown on higher education nor do I envy anyone who seeks such an education; on the contrary, I encourage higher education, vocational training, apprenticeship programs, craftsmanship program and the like, since any kind of career building skill and personal achievement of all Liberians will build the country from its present state to one that is second to none in the world. This is my dream and vision.
From where I sit, I will suggest that the culprits that are engaged in being students and employees of the State make restitution to the government for the hours that were utilized for their scholastic ventures. I admonish all the would-be politicians who are only seen and heard of during the election process, who are handicapped educationally, to use this down time of the political process to arm themselves educationally along with the knowledge of humanity, good governance, God fearing conscious and the good old fashion common sense.
