FBC Student Unionism Destroyed By Partisan Politics.
In the 1970s and 1980s, students at Fourah Bay College (FBC) were perhaps the only genuine opposition to the then dictatorial and autocratic one party Government of Late President Siaka Stevens. The opposition elements had been systematically muzzled and maimed in such a way that even their most tough and principled members had given in to Pa Shaki’s call to join the One Party. Let’s touch a little bit on the history of Fourah Bay College.
I am sure a lot of people wonder why the name Fourah Bay College was given to the University which is high atop Mount Aureol, one of the highest peaks around Freetown. Fourah Bay College was founded in 1827 by the Church Missionaries. In 1876 it was affiliated to Durham University in England and that university started granting her degrees to FBC. She could have gotten her name from its location in Cline Town, Fourah Bay, close to the Queen Elizabeth II Quay. The building is still there. During the Second World War, the Colonial Government took over the College. For security reasons the college was relocated 40 miles in a temporary facility at Mabang on the Songo – Moyamba alternative road. From an interview I once had with him, Prof. Eldred Jones, one time Principal of Fourah Bay College said at Mabang he was a Student Minister in charge of doling out kerosene for the student’s lamps. The college was later relocated to mount Aureol, its present location.
Fourah Bay College was the First University in West Africa for Western education. Because of the college’s location in Freetown gave Freetown the name “Athens of West Africa.” Unfortunately as the decades passed the University went on a decline it is yet to recover from.
The FBC student Unionism that was the envy of all in the 70s and 80s started suffering a deadly blow from the 90s and instead of presenting a strong unified force against common enemies, they disintegrated to very weak shadows of their former self. As student solidarity dropped so also academic standards. There were a myriad of student clubs, departmental associations, religious and brotherhood groups. An untoward development also in the 90s was the division right down the middle into “Black” and “White.” Formerly the radical students at Fourah Bay College were once generators of vibrant political activism and opposition to the APC party’s dictatorship.
The Black and White thingy at Fourah Bay College started when some students defected from the Auradicals to form the “Generals” Politically the Blacks and Whites became identified with The SLPP and the APC respectively. This has brought to naught all the student solidarity gains before the 90s. With our nascent democracy still having challenges one might think that students could be strong pillars to strengthen it and be strong advocates for the rights of citizens.
No doubt students who have reached the voting age of 18 may want to be involved in national politics. However politics is also practiced at college with the Student Union government there, it becomes a great learning ground. Getting involved in politics can be good especially as it opens up opportunities for scholarships and getting students politically active and be future vanguards for Governance. What is wrong with it is the division it brings on and off campus especially with the pervading existence of the Black and White culture that has eaten deep into the fabric of Student Unionism at FBC.
We all know how intimidating and vicious our politics in Sierra Leone can be. This is true and that is why if students have to be involved in politics, they should be well groomed and mentored by experienced citizens. What has proven to be unacceptable is the fact that student involvement in partisan politics is doing more harm than good. Students no more unite against a common enemy but serve the interest of their individual parties.
Being well-informed is the first critical step that a student should take. In the case at FBC even when they are well-informed they follow the most times untoward dictates of their political parties even when it adversely affects their fellow students negatively. National and student unionism issues never take precedent over patriotism.
Having pointed out some positive aspects of student involvement in partisan politics, it’s also good to see some negative effects in respect of Sierra Leone. Students’ national political activism takes away a lot of learning and study time. Things become harder if their particular party is not the one in power. They will find it difficult to be favoured. In the lecture rooms the lecturers might be more lenient with the students they share the same party with. This could be extended to exams and passing through to get certificates. There could also be rival/ party clashes. The learning environment is seriously undermined and even affection and attention. Generally students’ partisan politics makes students to focus less on their studies.
In a way because of the students, the Colleges’ reputation is also affected by the student’s political activism. The Party in power for the most part will use the students to be their political agents on campus.
One wonders whether anything could be done to curb the student partisan involvement. It could be hard to reverse the black and White division at Fourah Bay College. If only it is not translating into national politics, then it could be a bit better. The whole division continues even after graduation, at the work places. There are already complaints about tribalism and nepotism in our national political governance and this Black White issue only helps to complicate matters.
Well on the academic side, many Sierra Leoneans would like to see Fourah Bay College return to its glorious days of making Freetown the “Athens of West.” But tell me how can academic levels be raised when the students are spending so much time on partisan politics. Our country is at the moment going through very rancorous moments because of the political rivalry between the APC and the SLPP. Definitely the progress being made in Education will not be complete without having graduates that will help take our country to higher heights. Even the cow recognizes that its child was not born with horns.
By Beny SAM.