Alphonso Manley Commends Education Stakeholders

The National Primary School Examination (NPSE) is the gateway for pupils who have spent six years in primary school to promote to secondary school level. But Sierra Leone like any other African countries faces serious challenges during the conduction of public exams; with problems ranging from lack of proper infrastructure, furniture, shortage of examination materials and lack of proper coordination and monitoring between education stakeholders which could be another factor for the backwardness in the Education sector.

But it is a different story of progress this year, the reason why the National Coordinator for Civil Rights Coalition, Alphonso Manley on Saturday 11^th May 2019, commended President Bio, Alpha Timbo Minister of Basie Education, Arnold B. Kamara Head of National Office West Africa Examination Council, Alhaji Kamara Chief Education Officer and Amara Sowa National Coordinator Free Quality Education for properly conducting this year’s National Primary School Examination NPSE and WASSCE.

Alphonso Manley stated that we need to commend President Bio for making education a priority in his New Direction and this individual is a servant of this nation. The Minister and his team at the Ministry are doing very well ensuring that the FQE becomes a success story. Amara Sowa the National Coordinator and Alhaji Kamara Chief Education Officer at the Ministry said they have worked so hard to change the negative trend.

‘This is the first time I am seeing this type of coordination between the Ministry of Education, WAEC, Freetown City Council, heads of schools, Civil Society activists and parents. It tells that we are really moving forward, and with this success we must commend the active players so they will have the courage to do more next year,’ said Mr. Manley.

He also raised concern over the long distance pupils walking to access examination centers in the regions and suggested that the Ministry and WAEC should use some of the primary schools in their areas as centers to ease the constrains faced by pupils in that part of the country.

Alphonso called on the government to pay the 100% allocated to the WAEC in full next year before the commencement of the exam in order to continue with efficient conduct of the exam to meet international standard.

Based on it credibility and championing education issues the Civil Rights Coalition is the only CSO given accreditation to monitor the conduct of the exams.

The National Coordinator was recently advocating for the teaching service commission to be empowered and also called on government to address the transportation challenges faces by student nationwide especially the disable and distresses affected student.