By Foday Moriba Conteh
As part of Phase 1 of the Sierra Leone Free Education Project, the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education, with support from the World Bank, handed over four additional classrooms and a WASH facility to the R.C. Madonna Girls Primary School in Bo City on Friday, August 30th, 2024.
This initiative, implemented by the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education, is a significant step towards improving the education infrastructure for girls in the Southern Province. The new facilities aim to enhance the learning environment, reflecting the Government’s commitment to human capital development through education reform.
Giving an overview of the project, Ambrose T. Sesay, the Project Coordinator of the Free Education Project (FEP), emphasized the Government’s focus on improving girls’ education as part of its broader commitment to human capital development.
“The symbolic opening of additional classrooms at a girls’ school is a deliberate choice,” he stated, underscoring the importance of creating conducive learning environments for young girls. He explained that the Free Education Project, a multi-donor initiative funded by the World Bank, the European Union, FCDO and Irish Aid, is valued at $1.6 million and is one of the largest education projects in Sierra Leone.
Ambrose T. Sesay also highlighted the importance of inclusivity within the education system. The newly constructed classrooms are designed to accommodate all students, including those with physical challenges. “Our buildings are inclusive, with ramps to ensure accessibility for all,” he said. He also addressed the needs of girls facing pregnancy, ensuring that they will not be left out of the education system, with appropriate facilities in place to support them.
The Chair of the School Management Committee (SMC) at R.C. Madonna Girls Primary School, expressed gratitude to the Government of Sierra Leone and partners for the handing-over ceremony of the newly constructed classrooms and WASH facilities to the school which he described as a significant milestone in the institution’s development.
The SMC Chair emphasized the importance of the new infrastructure, calling it a “big occasion in the life of the Madonna Primary School.” He noted that the school, sponsored by the Catholic Mission, has long been a beacon of education for girls in the area and beyond.
Beyond the classrooms, the SMC Chair highlighted the installation of new toilet facilities, addressing a long-standing issue at the school. Previously, the pupils had been using inadequate and shared facilities with the surrounding community.
Mokhles Rahman, Project Task Team Lead at the World Bank Sierra Leone Country Office, emphasized the critical role that education plays in Sierra Leone’s development. “Education is the engine of growth,” he stated. “If children are not properly educated, the future of this country will face challenges.”
He acknowledged the challenges faced by many children in Sierra Leone, particularly the lack of educational resources at home, including books and the high rate of illiteracy among parents. These issues, he noted, are long-standing barriers that need to be addressed in order to improve learning outcomes across the country.
To tackle these challenges, the World Bank, in collaboration with the Government, has introduced a new program called foundational learning, which aims to raise the standard of education nationwide. The program is set to be rolled out across Sierra Leone starting in September 2024.
Mokhles Rahman called on teachers, parents and the community to support the initiative, saying, “Please help to make it a success. It will change the education scenario of this country.”
He also touched on the importance of girls’ education in Sierra Leone, noting that the country has made progress in this area, but there is still more work to be done. He urged communities to work together to prevent gender-based violence and ensure the safety of girls in schools and communities.
The Project Task Team Lead expressed the World Bank’s commitment to continued investment in Sierra Leone’s development, particularly in the area of human capital development. “Economic development is based on human capital development,” he noted. “We must equip our children with the skills they need to shape the future of this country.”
In his keynote address speech, Conrad Sackey, Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education emphasized that this development reflects the broader national vision of building a brighter future for every child in Sierra Leone. “This event is not just about constructing classrooms. It is about constructing the future of Sierra Leone, one child at a time,” he remarked.
The Minister highlighted the impact of the Free Quality School Education Initiative, a central pillar of President Julius Maada Bio’s Big Five Agenda, which focuses on Human Capital Development, Economic Diversification, Infrastructure, Technology and Governance. Since its launch, the initiative has seen a significant increase in school enrollment, particularly among girls, as barriers such as financial constraints and inadequate infrastructure are gradually being dismantled.
“The additional classrooms being handed over today are part of our commitment to addressing overcrowding in schools and creating conducive learning environments for our children. These classrooms are not merely buildings of bricks and mortar; they represent hope, opportunity and our unwavering commitment to the education of our nation’s future leaders,” the Minister said.
He underscored the Government’s belief that through education, communities can be lifted out of poverty, citizens can be empowered and a prosperous future can be built for generations to come.
“To our teachers, we say thank you for your commitment to nurturing the minds of our children. To the parents, thank you for believing in the vision of a better future. And to the students, seize these opportunities, study hard and know that the future of Sierra Leone rests in your hands,” Conrad Sackey encouraged.
He concluded by extending gratitude to the World Bank and other international partners, including the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, the European Union and Irish Aid, for their support in making the project possible.
Climaxing the ceremony was cutting the ribbon, symbolizing the official opening of the new facilities by Conrad Sackey, Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education and other dignitaries present.
