By Cyril Barnes
Her Excellency, Haja Ishata Thomas, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the State of Kuwait, on 3rd December 2020, spoke on President Julius Maada Bio’s massive investment in the Human Capital Development Project in Sierra Leone.
Described as the Free Quality Education (FQE) for Sierra Leone, this audacious project is a sustained approach to increase economic growth and eradicate poverty by improving productivity.
In an exclusive interview with this medium, Her Excellency Haja Ishata Thomas disclosed that Sierra Leone’s Free Quality Education Project is a catalyst for developing the human capital, adding that education plays an integral role in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“President Julius Maada Bio’s vision is to have a society that can rely on its human capital, which is a paradigm shift from the country’s old-school emphasis on mineral deposits. The Free Quality Education Project is essential to the development of Sierra Leone because it provides a level playing ground for every child to have equal access to education, regardless of tribe or religion,” Ambassador said.
Lauding the gains made in girls’ empowerment, she noted that the girl child education forms the bedrock of President Julius Maada Bio’s vision, adding that girls are now encouraged to learn and those who are in the sciences, are now offered scholarships for university studies.
“I am impressed with the current state of the girl child education in Sierra Leone. Before now, only boys were opportuned to go to school. Girls were discouraged from going to school, as they were told that their duty was tied to early marriage and home management. In the end, girls, whose hopes were let adrift, were substituted to housewives rather than taking part in the development activities of the country.”
Ambassador Thomas added: “We must applaud President Julius Maada Bio for taking this daring step to commit 21% of the country’s budget to develop human capital, despite the challenges faced. He has broken the glass ceiling, and like Singapore, who took upon themselves to develop the human capital, Sierra Leone has taken a leap to success.”
She concluded by calling on Kuwaiti Authorities to support the actualization of President Julius Maada Bio’s vision by investing in primary, secondary and post-secondary education in Sierra Leone.
Human capital development covers improving education and developing skills, improving health care, protecting the poor and vulnerable population groups.
Research revealed that, before the commencement of the Free Quality Education Programme, only 2 out every 5 adult Sierra Leonean could read or write English. Access to education was low and the quality was poor and only 13.7% of children between 3 and 5 years were enrolled in pre-primary level.
