Division of Extra-Mural Studies - DEMS Society FBC

𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐘 𝐃𝐀𝐘! ✨📖

Today, The Division of Extra-Mural Studies (DEMS) Fourah Bay College joins the world in celebrating 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐲, a reminder that the ability to read and write is not just a skill but a powerful right that opens doors to education, empowerment, and lifelong opportunities!

Since its proclamation by UNESCO in 1966, this day continues to emphasize that literacy is not just a tool for communication but also a catalyst for social progress, equality, and sustainable development.

Together, we strive to create a future where no one is left behind, where every voice can be heard, read, and understood.

Let us celebrate literacy not just today, but every day as a 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭, as a 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 and a 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲!

NOTICE TO ALL FRESHMEN AND CONTINUING STUDENTS AT FOURAH BAY COLLEGE-USL

Congratulations to Tejan Ishaq Kamara our Best-graduated student in 2020 and one-time Departmental President (2018/2019) on his successful defence of his Masters thesis at the Pan African University - African Union Commission! You're an inspiration to our department and a shining example of what can be achieved through perseverance and determination! ❤️🙏🎉

Attention! Attention! Attention!
Very important information for ALL STUDENTS AT FOURAH BAY COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF SIERRA LEONE

Very important!!!
From: Fourah Bay College

DEMS SOCIETY STUDENTS' REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL EXECUTIVE MEETS The Dorwontony Organization for the Aged (DOfA)

Earlier today, a cross-section of the executive of the DEMS Society Students' Representative Council met with the management and staff of the Dorwontony Organization for the Aged (DOfA).

The delegation was headed by His Excellency Mahmoud Kabba Koroma together with the Deputy Public Relations Officer - Mr Hamid Fofanah and the Press Secretary - Mr Sahr Osman Musa.

As His Excellency Mahmoud Kabba Koroma promised to establish partnerships and collaborations between the department and cooperate institutions, today's visit was putting this promise into action.

In his submission, the president highlighted the focused areas of study - adult education and community development and stressed the need for the two parties to collaborate.

The Dorwontony Organization for the Aged (DOfA) is a non-profit organization that was established primarily to seek the welfare of the aged through advocacy and support.

The Founder and Chief Executive Officer for the organization - Madam Doreen Barrie thanked His Excellency Mahmoud Kabba Koroma and the team for such a visit and further expressed her desire to collaborate with the department in areas of interest.

Mr. Hamid Fofanah - Deputy Public Relations Officer, suggested the need for the foundation to inculcate adult literacy into their activities, as a way of empowering the illiterate aged. This suggestion was welcoming and mind-blowing as the CEO and Founder of the organization expressed interest in it and sought possible collaboration to work on it.

As he embarks on this transformative journey together with his executive, His Excellency Mahmoud Kabba Koroma is calling on the studentship to be supportive of his leadership.
His executive is fully committed to enhancing the status of the department on and off campus, hence he is seeking the support of the entire studentship.

Join our former Departmental President (2019), who also emerged as our best-graduated student in 2020 for an Online Webinar on Africa Day 2024! Tejan Ishaq Kamara Is taking the stage with other like-minded Young Educators across the African continent.

Theme: Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality, and Relevant Learning in Africa

Date: Saturday, May 25th, 2024

Time: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM (GMT)
Platform: Virtual (Google Meeting)
https://meet.google.com/tka-iywx-cap

DEMS SOCIETY STUDENTS' REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL - FBC ELECTS NEW EXECUTIVE.

On the 28th day of March 2024, the studentship of the Division of Extra-Mural Studies (DEMS) Fourah Bay College University of Sierra Leone elected Mamoud Kabba Koroma, Theresa Sarah Grant and Dyna Cyril Tucker as President, Vice President and Public Relations Officer respectively.

This year's electioneering process experienced a paradigm shift from the previous ones, as all the elected officials went unopposed. As a department that's always known for upholding peace and calmness, the election was conducted in a peaceful, credible, free and fair atmosphere.

Upon his pronouncement, the president elect - Mr. Mamoud Kabba Koroma expressed his utmost gratitude to the studentship of the Division of Extra-Mural Studies (DEMS) for entrusting him with the leadership of the department and promised not to disappoint them. He however stated that his government will ensure that the welfare of the studentship is being maximized and that under his leadership the department will envisage series of developments.

NOTE: The Division of Extra-Mural Studies (DEMS) is one of the six (6) departments in the Faculty of Arts at Fourah Bay College. The department offers Certificate in Adult Education and Community Development Studies, Diploma in Adult Education and Community Development Studies, Bachelor of Education in Adult Education and Community Development Studies, MA. Adult Education and Community Development Studies and PhD in Adult Education and Community Development Studies.

Despite the fact that this department is one of oldest within Fourah Bay College, yet it is the most invisible and sparsely populated department. This is because of the wrong perception people have about the courses being offered by the department. The perception is that Adult Education is meant for training people the art of teaching old people how to read and write (adult literacy). But in actual sense, the course is far beyond that, as it covers a wide range of areas including continuing education, lifelong learning, extension education, distance education etc.

*UNESCO Conference on Education Data and Statistics - February 2024*

The UNESCO Conference on Education Data and Statistics is the first international event dedicated to establishing a collaborative platform for ongoing dialogue and mutual learning among education statisticians.

This inaugural conference marks a significant milestone as the first ever regular open forum in the field of education statistics, where we delve into pressing questions regarding the present and future of internationally comparable education data.

Organized by UNESCO's Institute for Statistics (UIS) in collaboration with UNESCO's Education Sector and the Global Education Monitoring Report, this Conference aims to reaffirm the vital role of member states as primary agents for coordinating education data and statistics . The conference also seeks to foster international statistical cooperation, emphasizing the relevance of collective efforts in shaping the landscape of education statistics.

THE DIVISION OF EXTRA-MURAL STUDIES, FOURAH BAY COLLEGE - USL HELD AN ORIENTATION FOR FRESH MEN AND WOMEN

On the 30th of January, 2024, the Students' Representative Council in collaboration with the administration of the the Division of Extra-Mural Studies (DEMS), Fourah Bay College - USL convened the maiden edition of freshers' orientation on the theme "Rebranding fresh men and women's perception of the course Adult Education and Community Development Studies".

The Division of Extra-Mural Studies is one of the departments within the walls of Fourah Bay College that offers Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor and PhD in Adult Education and Community Development Studies.

This innovative and mind-blowing initiative to orientate fresh men and women emerged as a result of students' wrong perception of the course, that it is meant to be training students how to teach adults to read and write (adult literacy and numeracy). But the course is far beyond that.

The orientation ceremony attracted a lot of people including continuing students of the department, lecturers and the Senior Admin Assistant at the Exams Office - Mr. Emmanuel M'Comark.

The program started with opening courtesies by Mr. Julius Kandeh Kanu, accompanied by individual silent prayers.

In deliberating on the relevance of the course, Mr. Cidi Mohamed Chebli - a lecturer at the department made it outrightly clear that the course Adult Education and Community Development Studies is far beyond the art of teaching old people how to read and write. He continued by saying that the course covers a wide spectrum of fields including; project planning, management, monitoring and evaluation, curriculum development, youth in development work etc. He furthered by encouraging fresh men and women to embrace hard work and avoid all forms of distractions on campus and also made a clarion call to them to always show maximum respect to their lecturers.

Ms. Agnes Pessima, who happens to be the oldest and longest serving lecturer at the department and also a one time Head of Department, admonished fresh men and women to embrace modesty and decency. Adding that they are being trained to become role models in society. She also emphasized the relevance of attendance for the overall continuous assessment of students stating that there's a special mark given to students who are punctual for lectures.

In his statement, the Ag. Head of Department - Mr. Mohamed I B Turay started by warmly welcoming all fresh men and women to the department. He continued by giving a brief description of the department, saying that back then the department was responsible for taking education from the university to the wider community which is why it's being called the Division of Extra-Mural Studies. He also stated that the department used to offer short-term courses for professionals of diverse fields. He however reiterated the purpose of the orientation, saying that it was meant to provide fresh men and women with an insight on the journey they have embarked on. He concluded by adding that the name of the course is what has been scaring students away, as they wrongly perceive it to be just about the teaching of old people. He stated that the course is so rich that most of the final year students from department get employed when they go on internship. He encouraged the fresh men and women to brace up and take every aspect of their academic work with utmost seriousness.

The Senior Admin Assistant at the Exams Office - Mr. Emmanuel M'Comark enlightened fresh men and women on the college's grading system, he also informed them about the penalties of exam malpractice which include rustication, rustication with fine and expulsion from the university all depending on the intensity of the act. He also informed them about the college's new policy for Year One Students, adding that the said policy doesn't create room for any year one student to progress with a reference to the next level (carry forward), which means they have to double their study efforts to avoid having reference (s). He concluded by encouraging the fresh men and women to always abide by the college's rules and regulations and wished them a successful academic journey.

In speaking on behalf of the Students' Representative Council, Amb. Usman Sheku Sheriff - Minister of Information and Communications, encouraged all the fresh men and women to pay their departmenal fees, adding that it's the primary source of revenue for the SRC to undertake developmental projects within the department. He implored them to always feel free to open up to members of the Students' Representative Council as their primary role is to advocate for the well-being of colleague students within the department. He concluded by admonishing them that it is by no mistake that they have found themselves within the Division of Extra-Mural Studies and they should take every inch of their academics serious.

©️ Sahr Osman Musa
Secretary General
DEMS Society Students' Representative Council.