By Esther Wright
President Dr. Julius Maada Bio on Friday, 23 August 2024, officially launched a major educational project at Bo Government Secondary School, signaling his commitment to Sierra Leone’s educational reform. During the groundbreaking ceremony in Bo City, the President turned the sod for the construction of seven new buildings and the rehabilitation of 24 existing structures as part of a $65 million initiative funded by the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).
The President expressed deep gratitude to the Principal, Board of Directors and other stakeholders for their unwavering support of his educational agenda. He highlighted his enthusiasm for the project, emphasizing that it would be closely monitored to ensure the use of quality materials, timely completion and the construction of durable infrastructure.
In his address, the President urged the contractor to meet high standards, warning that any company delivering substandard work would be blacklisted. “My Government is giving you the tool to navigate the world because I believe that with education, you will never get stuck anywhere in the world,” he stated. He also called on the nation to embrace education for the benefit of future generations, noting that the expansion and refurbishment of the school would help reduce overcrowding in classrooms and dormitories.
“This is one of the biggest projects and I am happy because Bo School has contributed immensely to national development,” President Bio added.
Mustapha Wai, the Project Lead for the Project Fiduciary Management Unit (PFMU) at the Ministry of Finance, praised President Bio’s leadership in advancing human capital development. He outlined that the BADEA-funded project would extend to other institutions, including Magburaka Government Secondary School for Boys, Kenema Secondary School for Boys, the Prince of Wales Secondary School, Milton Margai Technical College and Kenema Technical College. He also highlighted that the project would create around 1,000 jobs for locals, promote infrastructure development and support the local economy, with completion expected on schedule.
Both the Minister and Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Basic Education expressed their appreciation for the project, noting that the additional classrooms and dormitories would enable more students to benefit from the Free Quality Education initiative. They stressed the importance of cooperation between stakeholders and school authorities to achieve the President’s vision for education in Sierra Leone.
The ceremony also featured remarks from the Paramount Chief of Kakua Chiefdom and the Principal of Bo Government Secondary School, followed by a tour of the school’s facilities.
