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UN Resident Coordinator Condemns Violent Incidents at Correctional Centre

Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Sierra Leone

By United Nations Sierra Leone

On May 1st, 2020 the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Sierra Leone expressed serious concern over the violent incidents which occurred on the 29th April 2020 in the Central Correctional Facility on Pademba Road in Freetown. The UN Resident Coordinator says as an institution they regret the resultant loss of life, injury and damage to property and further condemn all forms of violence. In that regard, it stated that the institution is extending its sincere condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured speedy recovery.

According to the UN Resident Coordinator, the United Nations in Sierra Leone recalls the commitment made by the Government of Sierra Leone, under international conventions and treaties, including the Nelson Mandela Rules to protect and respect the human rights of all persons deprived of their liberty.

The UN calls for prompt and full investigations into the incidents so that the perpetrators of the violence may be brought to justice.

He averred that more than ever, preventing the spread of COVID-19 should be the overarching priority for institutions and individuals alike, which demands consensus and unity of purpose among all sections of Sierra Leonean society.

To that end, the United Nations in Sierra Leone calls on all the political parties, their followers, security agencies and the population at large to promote respect for human rights while eschewing acts of incitement and other actions liable to lead to violence and distract from the all-important fight against COVID-19.

He ended up by stating that the United Nations in Sierra Leone will continue to urge political parties and other stakeholders to engage in meaningful dialogue and will continue to stand ready to facilitate such a dialogue.

Commemorating May Day 2020… Kobi Walker Instils Hope On Workers

Chairman of the Sierra Leone Employers Federation, Kobi Walker

By Amin Kef Sesay (Ranger)

Chairman of the Sierra Leone Employers Federation, Kobi Walker, on Friday, 1st May 2020, during the commemoration of the International Labour Day, otherwise known as May Day encouraged fellow workers to take heart as some of their colleagues around the world have succumbed to the deadly virus that has claimed over 200, 000 lives.

“We are indeed very grateful for being alive to see this day as, quite unfortunately, some of our colleagues are amongst the over 200,000 citizens worldwide who have died as a result of the coVID-19. Others are either quarantined or in specially designated COVID-19 hospitals or treatment centres,” he said.

He recalled the effect of the disease on business and the working population around the world. Workers, he furthered, have suffered job losses and huge income losses, and extended grief for the loss of one of their prominent official, Mr Jennings Anthony Brian Wright, President of the Sierra Leone Labour Congress and General Secretary of the Hotel, Food Drinks Tobacco Entertainment and Tourism Workers Union last Thursday. He described him a Man that has contributed hugely to the development of that sector and whose advices have resulted in settling impasse between employers and employees.

Elaborating on the impact of COVID-19 on workers in Sierra Leone and globally, Kobi Walker said that a press release issued by the Director General of International Labour Organisation (ILO), Mr. Guy Ryder on 29th April 2020, aptly described the situation as “no income means no food, no security and no future”.

The release noted the need for the protection of the vulnerable workers, stressing that “millions of businesses around the world are barely breathing with unemployment levels reaching an all-time high”.

Pacifying colleague workers across the country, Kobi Walker said that they are exploring all avenues of relief that are most effective in preserving employer-employee relationships and securing the foundations for a robust recovery once the disease is conquered.

“To this effect, The Sierra Leone Employers’ Federation and the Sierra Leone Labour Congress issued a Joint Statement and Press Release on the 6h of April 2020 on the Covid-19 Crisis in Sierra Leone and how as a nation we can collectively respond. In the Statement we recommended to the Government, measures to support workers, enterprises, hard hit sectors, supply chain and also measures to support the recovery of the economy” he disclosed.

Chairman Walker went on further to say that though evidence paints a dire picture of the impact of COVID-19 on workers, yet with concerted efforts, they will get past this crisis and hit the road to recovery in the not-too-distant future.

On behalf of the Federation, he expressed thanks and appreciation to the government for the measures put in place to combat the COVID -19, adding that the measures had contributed greatly to the reduction in the number of infected cases and deaths, when compared to other countries in the sub-region and the world. He admonished workers to strictly observe the medical and hygiene protocols and other directives of the government, expressing hope that the disease would have disappeared against next year’s celebration.

2020 May Day Statement by The Chairman of The Sierra Leone Employers’ Federation

Fellow workers, I bring you fraternal greetings from the Sierra Leone Employers Federation.

The world is enduring a staggering downturn amidst the spread of COVID-19. There is no gainsaying the fact that these negative consequences are particularly harsh for workers most of whom have suffered tremendous losses in terms of income and employment.

But as the Good Books say, we should thank God for everything.

We are indeed very grateful for being alive to see this day as, quite unfortunately, some of our colleagues are amongst the over 200,000 citizens worldwide who have died as a result of the coVID-19. Others are either quarantined or in specially designated COVID-19 hospitals or treatment centres.

Here in Sierra Leone we are still mourning the sudden passing away of Mr Jennings Anthony Brian Wright, President of the Sierra Leone Labour Congress and General Secretary of the Hotel, Food Drinks Tobacco Entertainment and Tourism Workers Union last Thursday.

We will all miss his wise counsel and his commitment to dialogue as a means of setting industrial issues. Indeed he was instrumental in concluding the Side Agreement of the Hotel and Tourist Trade Group which set out a range of options available to employers as they address the issue of workers resulting from the harsh and ravaging impact of the COVID-19 on enterprises worldwide and in Sierra Leone in particular.

May his kind and gentle soul rest in eternal peace.

For this year’s theme, I wll hover around the impact of the COVID-19 on workers and enterprises worldwide.

This has been eloquently captured in the Press Release issued by the International Organization (ILO) on the 29th of April 2020 by the Director General of ILO Mr Guy Ryder who among other things, noted the need to protect the most vulnerable because for millions of workers, no income means no food, no security and no future.

Millions of businesses around the world are barely breathing with unemployment levels reaching an all-time high.

As a Federation, we continue to explore all avenues of relief that are most effective in preserving employer-employee relationships and securing the foundations for a robust recovery once we put this pandemic behind us.

To this effect, The Sierra Leone Employers’ Federation and the Sierra Leone Labour Congress issued a Joint Statement and Press Release on the 6h of April 2020 on the Covid-19 Crisis in Sierra Leone and how as a nation we can collectively respond. These were carried on the electronic print and social media. In the Statement we recommended to the Government measures to support workers, enterprises hard hit
sectors, supply chain and also measures to support the recovery of the economy.

Evidence points a dire picture of the impact of COVID-19 on workers, but we stand secure in the belief that with our concerted efforts, we will get past this crisis and hit the road to recovery in the not-too-distant future.

The Federation would want to take this opportunity to thank the Government of Sierra Leone for the measures put in place to combat the COVID -19 which has limited the number of infections and deaths in Sierra Leone.

We continue to admonish all workers to strictly observe the medical and hygiene protocols and other directives of Government.

Finally it is my fervent prayer and firm belief that with the collective efforts of all Sierra Leoneans we will defeat the COVID-19 so that by the time we celebrate May Day next year, COVID-19 will be behind us and the economy will be on the path to recovery.

I thank you and May God/Allah bless you, your families and loved ones and of course the country we love so well… Our Mama Sierra Leone.

KOBI WALKER
CHAIRMAN

Former Caretaker Principal Indicted by ACC

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Alhaji Mohamed Foday Kamara, Supervisor of Schools and former Caretaker Principal of Schlenker Secondary School, Port Loko, and of 16 Lungi Road, Port Loko has been indicted by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), on 24th April, 2020, on four (4) count charges of corruption offences bordering on Misappropriation of Public Funds and Property, contrary to Section 36 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 12 of 2008.

The ACC confirmed that between January 2018 and July 2019, Alhaji Mohamed Foday Kamara, in his capacity as Supervisor of Schools and Caretaker Principal of Schlenker Secondary School, Port Loko, misappropriated public property to wit: Thirty-Three (33) bundles of Corrugated Zinc Materials valued in the sum of Fourteen Million, Eight Hundred and Ninety Thousand Leones (Le 14, 890,000.00); Five Hundred and Thirty-Six (536) pieces of boards, valued in the sum of Eighteen Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Leones (Le 18,750,000.00); and Fifty benches and chairs valued in the sum of Eight Hundred and Sixteen Thousand, Seven Hundred Leones (Le 816,700.00); all being property of the School.

Similarly, between 1st June and 30th June, 2019, Alhaji Mohamed Foday Kamara, in his capacity as Supervisor of Schools and Caretaker Principal of Schlenker Secondary School, Port Loko District, misappropriated the sum of Six Million Leones (Le 6,000,000.00), being funds intended for the payment of Departmental Support to Heads of Departments of the School.

Meanwhile, the indictee is expected to appear in the High Court Holden at Makeni on a date that will be determined by the Master and Registrar when court session resumes.

The Commission stated that it is reassuring the general public of its continued resolve to curbing corruption at all levels in Sierra Leone.

Angels to Angels Joins the Fight against the Covid-19

Cross section of Angels to Angels Mentors on mask production

By Foday Moriba Conteh

One of Sierra Leone’s leading Girl child-based organizations, Angels 2 Angels, a non-governmental organization that caters for less privileged children in the country has embarked on a Coronavirus sensitization and production of face masks to be freely distributed to residents in different slum communities within the Freetown Municipality as their support towards curtailing the spread of the virus in the country.

According to the National Coordinator of Angels to Angels- Sierra Leone, Saidu Sankoh, as an organization they have been very committed to empower and support less privileged children in Sierra Leone, adding that since the outbreak of the Covid-19 in the country they have been curious as well as concerned about the wellbeing of children in the country.

He disclosed that they have been embarking on sensitization drives bordering on the causes and prevention of the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) as a way to help raise the awareness on this deadly virus that has put the entire world on a stand still.

He stated that currently the organization’s mentors have embarked on Local face mask production which will be distributed  targeting slum communities.

He expressed appreciation to the Founder of Angels to Angels, Fatu Quinie Sesay and the Board Members who have been supporting them all these years.

Saidu Sankoh further pleaded to them for additional support at a crucial moment like this when the country is faced with the pandemic.

He also called on institutions and individuals to support the organization in order for them to continue to empower and improve more lives as they are currently financially challenged.

He encouraged all to observe the necessary personal hygiene messages that have been outlined and to adhere to the directives of the Government.

Sankoh also admonished Sierra Leoneans to strictly adhere to the advice of hand washing which he said will help to keep them alive and protect them from contracting the coronavirus.

Cross section of the face mask be produced my Angels to Angels Mentors
Cross Section of Angels to Angels Mentors
Cross section of the face mask be produced my Angels to Angels Mentors

Dr. Samura Kamara Urges Govt. to Table SPHE Regulations in Parliament

2018 All People s Congress Flagbearer, Dr. Samura M.W. Kamara

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The 2018 All People s Congress Flagbearer, Dr. Samura M.W. Kamara has on Tuesday  28th April, 2020 in a Press Statement urged the Government of Sierra Leone to put together the State of Public Health Emergency and The Regulations and properly table them in Parliament, gazette and publicize them for the benefit of the populace.

He disclosed that since His Excellency the President, Julius Maada Bio declared a State of Public Health Emergency (SPHE) on March 24, 2020, there has been a plethora of orders from individual State functionaries and various institutions of Government restricting fundamental rights and freedoms ostensibly to contain the spread of COVID-19 virus.

He added that whilst some of those measures will no doubt help the fight against COVID-19, it is important to emphasize that our national constitution is very clear that such orders (under an emergency) must be orderly regulated.

The APC top notch politician said according to Section 29(5) of the 1991 constitution:  “During a period of public emergency, the President may make such regulations and take such measures as appear to him to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of maintaining and securing peace, order and good governance in Sierra Leone or any part thereof.”

He noted that crucially, Section 170 (7) requires “….such regulations to be gazetted and tabled in Parliament’ for obvious reasons.

He said that, however, in addition to the public notice announcing the imposition of the curfew on Kambia district on April 3, 2020, several other press releases and/or public notices have been issued in disparate fashion including one imposing a nationwide curfew without due regard to Parliament, contrary to the aforesaid provisions of our Constitution.

“In light of the above, Government must endeavour to put together the SPHE regulations, properly table them in Parliament, gazette and publicize them,” he demanded.

He said that if the regulations are put together and SPHE properly tabled in Parliament, gazetted and publicized the public would be adequately guided as to what is required of them under the circumstances. This will also help to ensure clarity and certainty in fighting against the pandemic.

“Suffice it to say that I am not unsupportive of Government’s efforts to fight this pandemic. But as was done during the successful fight against the Ebola virus epidemic, Parliamentarians from all political parties, local councils, traditional and religious leaders as well as civil society actors, must all be brought on board as frontline fighters to ensure that together, we defeat this invisible Coronavirus disease in our country. But again as we do so, we should endeavour, even in an emergency, to comply fully with our Constitution and respect the fundamental human rights and dignity of our citizens,” Dr. Samura averred.

He therefore urged Members of Parliament across the political aisle, to put aside partisan considerations and to do the needful by elevating to the true aspirations of their constituents of checking the excesses of the Executive

 

ACTION AGAINST HUNGER Calls for Global ceasefire to Address Conflict-related Hunger

Action Against Hunger

By Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger welcomes briefing by the UN Security Council on Protecting Civilians Affected by Conflict-Induced Hunger. The organization says according to the Global Report on Food Crises, the number of people facing food crises in the world has increased for the fourth year in a row.

Nearly two years after the unanimous adoption of Resolution 2417 in May 2018, conflict remains the primary driver of food insecurity. The COVID-19 pandemic will further exacerbate conflict-induced hunger — underscoring the urgent need for Security Council support for a global ceasefire to enable essential humanitarian and medical personnel to respond to the pandemic.

“Action Against Hunger has long-championed Security Council action to reduce conflict-related hunger. We call for enhanced implementation of Resolution 2417, as well as full support for the Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire, allowing us to safely reach and assist civilians in countries where we operate. Conflict—the effects of which are now complicated by COVID-19 — continues to threaten the lives and livelihoods of people we serve,” said Mamadou Diop, Representative for Action Against Hunger’s Regional Office in West and Central Africa.

Insecurity, lack of access, and counter-terrorism restrictions limit how we can assist people. Preventing and responding to conflict is the primary responsibility of the Security Council, but inaction over the past years, has placed the onus on humanitarian actors to respond to the impacts of political crises.

Action Against Hunger is particularly concerned about the deteriorating situation in the Sahel, where recent projections are similar to the 2012 Food Crisis — a crisis in which 18.7 million people faced extreme food insecurity. There are now 1.1 million displaced people in Burkina Faso, Mali and Western Niger, a figure that increased 290% in the past year.

Approximately four million people are estimated to be currently experiencing a food crisis in the Central Sahel, nearly quadruple the average of the last five years. Between June and August — the lean season — the number of food insecure people is projected to increase to 5.5 million. Because of the impact of COVID-19, the number of people facing a food crisis could grow by 13.8 million people and total 19 million across Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

Conflict in the Sahel has had a devastating impact on livelihoods — specifically on freedom of movement, access to markets and the use of certain types of necessary agricultural inputs. Roughly 3,600 schools and 240 health centers have been forced to close due to violence.

“The warning bells have been ringing: Food security indicators as dire as what we see in the Sahel — mostly due to conflict — must be a call to action for the international community. As outlined in Resolution 2417, the Secretary-General has a clear responsibility to raise the alarm to the Security Council,” said Diop.

COVID-19, although a health crisis, will exacerbate already existing food and nutrition insecurity and drive vulnerable communities deeper into hunger and poverty. The response will require significant investment from the international community — investments that cannot come at the expense of existing humanitarian responses.

To prevent additional deaths from hunger and adapt to rapidly changing operational contexts, donors should provide sufficient, quickly dispersible and flexible funding to support conflict-sensitive, multi-year, integrated responses to conflict and hunger and COVID-19.

SLMDA Demands Better Financial Support for All Healthcare Workers

By Foday Moriba Conteh

On the 27th April 2020 , Dr. Delwin Findlay, President of the Sierra Leone Medical & Dental Association (SLMDA) donated a consignment of three-layered face masks, gloves, sanitizers, Maltina energy drinks amongst other items to Madam Inez Lemoh, President of the Sierra Leone Nurses Association, Madam Margaret James, President of the West African College of Nurses (Sierra Leone chapter), Representative of Sierra Leone Association of Midwives President and other representatives of Health Care Workers (HCWs).

The event took place in front of the memorial plaque which is erected in honour of those Sierra Leonean doctors who died from Ebola in 2014/2015.

This show of solidarity among doctors and other healthcare staff  is deemed to be important as it may prevent yet another memorial plaque from being erected – this time for doctors and nurses who may die from Covid-19.

The insistence of the SLMDA for the Government to improve on its Memorandum of Understanding which outlines its offer of support for doctors and health care workers (HCW) in the country, to include, a form of insurance compensatory policies for any HCW who becomes infected, is quite in place considering how four nurses that are currently admitted for treatment of Covid-19, are currently suffering from poor feeding and lack of psychosocial support.

Apart from instant Insurance payoffs when they fall ill (and not wait until they die) other demands put forward to the Government include:-

  • Doctors want to know the exact sum of payment that the Life Insurance Policy will pay to their next-of-kin should the doctors die from Covid-19. Will the payment be cash? If so, how much cash and is it a one off lump sum or regular payments to be made to next of kin?
  • Doctors want a FRONT-LOADING of NASSIT payments for up to 60 months for all Medical Doctors/HCWs who have not yet served for up to 60 months. This will ensure that if these Doctors/HCWs die, their next of kin is assured of a lifetime of receiving their NASSIT benefits.
  • Doctors will accept the PAYE Rebate as offered but only on a temporary basis until Parliament meets and enacts the one year respite from paying PAYE. It has to be a minimum 12 months and it has to be given legal strength through Parliamentary approval. With all due respect, the doctors don’t want to rely on mere oral promises. Let it be legally binding.
  • Limiting Educational assistance to only 3 children of deceased doctors/HCWs is DISRESPECTFUL to families with more than 3. For example, a doctor who leaves behind 5 children will not want two children left out whilst the other three get well educated.

This may create bad blood in choosing which three gets the education package and which two get left out. Doctors/HCWs don’t want bad blood and disrespect to erupt in their families after they are deceased.

As Remand Inmate tested Positive… C J Puts New Measures in Place to Contain Spread of COVID-19

Hon. Chief Justice of the Republic of Sierra Leone Hon. Justice Desmond Babartunde Edwards

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Honourable Chief Justice of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards, has issued a Public Notice on the 27th April 2020 informing  that one remand centre inmate has proved positive of Covid-19 and that inmate has been labelled as Case 90.

According to the Notice the inmate was received from the East End Police Station and attended a court sitting on the 17th of April 2020 at Court No. 6 before a Magistrate and was received at the remand centre, Pademba Road Correctional Centre on the same day.

It furthered that the remand inmate reported sick on the 20th April 2020 and was subsequently admitted at the Male Correctional Centre Hospital.

“During his admission he confessed that he escaped from a quarantine centre at Cow Yard, Guard Street, Freetown and he was referred to 34 Hospital and later to Connaught hospital on Friday, 24th April 2020. On Sunday, 26th April he was confirmed positive and is now Case 90,” the Notice revealed.

It also pointed out that in view of the above, he, the Chief Justice in consultation with the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Sierra Leone Correctional Centre decided on the following measures:

  1. All inmates at the Freetown male re-integration centre hereinafter called “the isolation and observation unit” at Special Court be transferred to the Male Correctional Centre at Pademba Road;
  2. All inmates at the remand section at Pademba Road and the Correctional Hospital are now with immediate effect relocated to “the isolation and observation unit” at Special Court as a quarantine measure; inmates from the Correctional Hospital will be transferred / treated separately from the other inmates;
  3. The Church Building at Pademba Road will be temporarily used as a Medical Referral Centre for inmates at the male correctional centre.

It was again pointed out that the current remand centre at Pademba Road is being fumigated and it is currently out of use.

The Notice went on to state that as a result of the above, it is hereby announced that with immediate effect, there is cessation of all court activities in the Magistrate Courts nationwide for one month effective Tuesday, 28th April 2020 to prevent movement of possibly infected persons from police stations to court and court to prisons.

In addition, all other civil or criminal cases in Magistrate courts are likewise postponed for a month effective 28th April 2020 stating how the Police are ready to give Police bail as far as possible for new offenders and to hold serious offenders without bail where necessary.

All EOC protocols are now being put in place to trace primary and secondary contacts.

Also, it stated that further to the above, the Judiciary is announcing the following new measures to contain the spread of Covid-19:

  1. The Civil High Court which was scheduled to commence work from the 11th May 2020 has been postponed to Monday 10th June 2020.
  2. The January criminal session comes to an end with immediate effect.
  3. The special criminal sessions which were scheduled to start on the 8th May 2020 are now postponed to Thursday 28th of May 2020.
  4. The May criminal sessions commencing 18th May 2020 is also postponed to Monday 10 of June 2020.

As the fight against COVID-19 Intensifies… MFGIA & Partners Give 2,000 Free Passwords of “My Expo App” to Students

Esther Michael, Founder of Music for Girls Initiative Africa

By Foday Moriba Conteh

In a Press Release dated 28th April 2020 and signed by Esther Michael, Founder of Music for Girls Initiative Africa, an organization that inspire, support and empower girls through the Arts, also fighting against illiteracy, child marriage, rape, teenage pregnancy, mental abuse and gender inequality it was categorically stated that as an organization they seek to reduce gender-based violence to the barest minimum in Sierra Leone.

Furthermore, the organization stated that as a registered non-governmental organization that equip and empower girls and women they are poised to give them a voice, hope and support.

According to the Founder, the Corona Virus Pandemic poses similar challenge to the well-being of girls in Sierra Leone as did the Ebola Outbreak, where Sierra Leone recorded the highest teenage pregnancy rate in history.

It said on that note Music for Girls Initiative Africa and her partners, Dots and My Expo Campus, will be giving out 2,000 free passwords of the “My Expo App” to students and teachers in Sierra Leone.

The Release revealed that the “My Excellence in Passing  ‘O’ Level” (EXPO) App, also known as the Student’s Personal Teacher, is a mobile application workable with android phones and tablets that cover topics in all subjects for Arts, Science and Commercial stream for students in SSS1 – SSS3.

“This app is a personal teacher, as every class has a virtual animated teacher that works students through any topic in all subjects, preparing them for their WASSCE. The “My Expo App” is easy to understand, it is clear, with animated images that makes it also enjoyable for students,” the Organization pointed out.

It says, according to Julia Gillard, the Board Chair,The Global Partnership for Education – “The COVID-19 pandemic is creating an education emergency that could have devastating impacts on children in developing countries. Unless we act now to support education systems, millions of vulnerable children, especially the poorest girls, may not be able to resume learning when this crisis is over.”

The Founder disclosed that Music for Girls Initiative Africa, has taken the bold step to make meaningful contributions to the educational needs of children in this unprecedented time.

She said they are strongly encouraging girls to seize the opportunity and work in paving a way for their bright future.

Esther Michael stated that to download the “my expo app” one should  go to Google play store and download the app for free and then send a WhatsApp message to +234 70 6195 3675 to get access to one’s code and enjoy virtual digital learning.

The Release highlighted that Music for Girls Initiative Africa is calling on other NGOs, INGOs and individuals to join in the purchase of more access code for Sierra Leone to mitigate both the immediate and long-term disruption of education being caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In conclusion the Release is welcoming emails to be addressed to   music4girls8@gmail.com  or call on the following numbers: +23278 066 244, +232 99 472 342.

A Comment On… The EU’s 60 Million Euro ‘New Jobs and Growth Program’

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Minister of Planning and Economic Development in receiving the EU’s 60 million Euro new jobs and growth program funding noted that there is the need to equip young people with skills to cope with future aspirations and an environment that delivers employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.

The comment on this particular program is that since independence, the country has neglected feeding adequate funding into vocational and technical education for the purpose of enhancing economic development using the energy of our youths which sees many well paid Voc-Tech jobs going to foreigners.

In relation to developing countries, bilateral aid agencies, the World Bank and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) advocate vocational education to reduce poverty, promote economic growth and increase competitiveness.

Vocational education and training minus being an engine for economic growth is also a vital vehicle for social inclusion.

Evidence of the productivity‐enhancing effects of VET at company level is quite solid, such as seen in its utilization by companies such as Sierra Leone Brewery but evidence of the effect on overall economic growth is not conclusive.

The effects on social inclusion are uncertain because reform of VET systems has not been sufficient and because it has proved difficult to bring about the necessary institutional change.

The purpose of VET is to provide individuals with skills that are more or less directly applicable in the workplace and it is argued that these are likely to have direct and immediate effects on productivity and consequently upon economic growth.

The second reason is the potential for VET to promote social inclusion. Here, the elimination of all barriers to education and training is regarded as a key issue. (European Commission, 2007)

In this context, VET is of particular interest because there are reasons to believe that it is superior to general education from a socializing point of view, as well as in promoting access to the labour market.

Yet, most unfortunately, the country’s higher education, as seen at Fourah Bay College for example, still focuses on traditional Grammar school kind of education; the result being a large number of graduates that cannot find employment.

To narrow down the concept, it is useful to discuss the various forms through which skills acquisition takes place in society. A large part is through on‐the‐job training that may or may not result in recognized qualifications.

In‐company training is a more formalized means of training. It comes in many forms, from extended trainee programs to short courses and is mainly provided as continuing VET.

The system of National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs), where knowledge and skills acquired by way of work experience are subject to certification processes, implies that in‐company training forms the basis of initial as well as continuing VET.

As such, in countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany and the Scandinavian countries, in‐company training is also a major component of initial VET.

Learning from the experience of the EU, after the dissolution of the guilds system in Europe in the nineteenth century, the apprenticeship system remained the principal form for vocational training in a number of trades, but in the absence of a regulation the system tended to erode and in many cases apprentices turned into cheap labour.

Apprenticeship in many ways is similar to in‐company training because much of the training takes place in a workplace. The main difference is that an apprenticeship usually is of a much longer duration.

In a few countries, Denmark and Germany for example, the State instituted an apprenticeship legislation which implied, among other things, recognized training titles and that part of the training should take place in a school.

On the other hand, school‐based VET is where all or most of the training takes place in a (vocational) school. In a historical perspective, school‐based VET emerged primarily as a supplement to apprenticeship training, but in a few countries where apprenticeship training remained unregulated, France for instance, it emerged as the most important form of vocational education.

After World War II, school‐based VET became more important, and in many countries the dominant form of VET for young people.

The comment is that Sierra Leone needs to completely overhaul its current unproductive learning system that produces annually thousands of unemployable graduates.

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