By Foday Moriba Conteh
Orange Sierra Leone, one of the leading telecommunications companies operating in the country, through one of its appendages, Orange Foundation Sierra Leone, has on the 12th November 2021, turned the sod of the soil in Tihun Town, Pengor Section, Sogbini Chiefdom, and Bonthe District for the construction of an Ultra-Modern Early Childhood Education Pre-School.
Speaking during the event, the Councillor for Ward 321 of Constituency 092 in Sogbini Chiefdom, Bonthe District, Councillor Joseph S. Silvalie, in a statement told the audience that the Pre School, after completion will be a first class school within the Sogbini Chiefdom, further extending gratitude to the Management and Staff of Orange Mobile Company in Sierra Leone for the kind gesture. He continued that through the execution of its Corporate Social Responsibility the company has rolled out various interventions in different parts of the country, saying it is indeed welcoming and soothing that Orange Sierra Leone is bringing a state-of-the-art Pre Primary School to Bonthe District.
He reiterated their appreciation for Orange Sierra Leone’s kind gesture in helping the Government to promote the Free Quality Education Initiative in the country. He disclosed that for them in Bonthe District, majority of the residents are subscribers to the company.
Councillor Joseph S. Silvalie revealed that it is sometimes mind-boggling to see their children attending Nursery school in another Village. He advised the parents to send their children to school earlier in order for them to have a solid foundation. He said the parents should make the use of the opportunity so that at the end of the day the school will not be a white Elephant.
He advised the parents to send their children to school and to support the children to learn.
He concluded by appealing to Orange to support them have certain basic amenities like school toilets, and water wells at the schools within Sogbini Chiefdom.
The Deputy Director of the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Lahai Feika, said eleven months ago they commissioned a secondary school at Sogbini Chiefdom and now they are present at the scene to lay the foundation stone for the construction of a Pre Primary School adding that indeed education and development are intertwined.
He noted that the Pre School is very important saying it will provide the space for children to engage in brain work and prepare them to pursue basic education. Lahai Feika encouraged the parents to send their children to the Pre School adding that Pre School likening it to an investment that will improve the child’s language easily.
He advised the parents and the community to take ownership of the school and advised them to make sure they monitor the facility regularly.
The Ministry of Education official revealed how Orange-SL has been giving the Ministry big support by constructing schools telling residents that it a big opportunity for them.
He assured that as a Ministry they will make sure they monitor the Pre-school, especially the learning system, and also monitor the teachers regularly. “As a Ministry we will make sure the Pre School has the kind of learning materials it should have,” he promised stating that he will report the development to his superiors accordingly.
In her keynote address, the Director of Orange Foundation, Jestina Betts said Tihun is a very beautiful town.
She advised the parents to send their children to the Pre School disclosing that the Orange Foundation will continue to reach out and spread hands to support Mama Salone.
The Director noted that they will join hands with residents of Tihun and officials of the Education Ministry to ensure that the investment they are making will be sustainable and that the children of Tihun are enjoying the facility.
Jestina Betts appealed to everyone at Tihun to join hands and help the contractors, be watch dogs of the building materials so that the building will go on as planned.
The turning of the sod in Tihun within the Sogbini Chiefdom of Bonthe District climaxed the occasion.
