Baptist Theological Seminary Students Get US$30K Smart Classroom

The Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary (LBTS) on Monday, September 7, 2021, dedicated a well-furnished and modern computer laboratory facility, known as ‘Smart Classroom’, valued US$30,000 for students of that institution.

The facility, at present, has over 30 pieces of Lenovo branded laptops, a wide projector screen, camera, and wifi facilities to enhance the teaching and learning ability of instructors and students at the Seminary.  

Over the years, Liberia has witnessed gradual changes in the way education is delivered. But some of these changes have been accelerated by the onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, no aspect of higher education will remain untouched by innovation because of COVID-19. 

A number of higher-education institutions across Liberia are investing significant resources, especially in online learning platforms, to address the need for social distancing, while accommodating more students per course as an added benefit. 

The dedication of the Smart Classroom on the campus of the LBTS, located in Paynesville, coincided with the groundbreaking for a graduation hall, a new gate, as well as the installation of solar-powered street lights on the campus. 

The ceremony was graced by several students, alumni, clergymen, and women from the Baptist Churches and other well-wishers, respectively.

“By the special grace of God, He has been helping us along the way in the midst of the global challenges. LBTS has been continuously blessed in terms of the vision we have and the support for the vision,” Dr. Momolu Massaquoi, President of LBTS said in remarks while giving an overview of the project during the dedication of the computer lab. 

A few months back, Dr. Massaquoi said when the COVID-19 started, they had to transition to conducting courses online.  However, they discovered that most LBTS students experienced setbacks due to lack of money to purchase data in order to access the online courses.

Expressing his delight about the LBTS projects under his administration, Dr. Massaquoi further extended gratitude to his international partners for believing him and his dream of increasing the vibrancy of the institution. 

The LBTS President promised that, with the level of development taking place at the institution, he hopes to connect with one of the biggest online libraries in the world, where LBTS students will be able to access research and other online learning tools. 

In remarks, Reverend Trocon W. Langford, president, LBTS alumni association, lauded Dr. Massaquoi and his team for the work ongoing at the LBTS. 

Rev. Lanford urged him (Dr. Massaquoi) to continue his good work because God will mold him for a bigger task ahead.

For his part, Reverend Alonso J. Duncan, Vice President of the Liberia Baptist Missionary Educational Convention, also acknowledged Dr. Massaquoi and his team for taking the seminary to another level.

“On behalf of the Providence Baptist Association, we have come to say thank you,” Rev. Duncan said. “And we will not only be in prayer with you but also, in our weak way, do what we can to support you to lift the seminary.” 

LBTS is a privately owned four-year degree-awarding institution, established in 1976 under the proprietorship of the Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention (LBMEC).

The Seminary exists to educate men and women for service as leaders in religious life, to operate as ministers and teachers, and in other areas of ministry, enriched by theological study. 

The curriculum is designed to address the contemporary challenges that confront the church of Jesus Christ when commitment is considered in a global context. In light of this, the LBTS curriculum has been revised, Africanized, and contemporized with the aim of developing the students mentally, morally, spiritually, and socially.