In Pujehun District, on the 1st April, 2023, the First Lady, Dr. Mrs. Fatima Maada Bio, advised school children to leave Politics to the Politicians and instead focus on making their Education a priority. She made that statement while accompanying her husband, President Dr Julius Maada Bio, as he visited the Southern District.
The First Lady underscored that she has never talked about politics to pupils because their place is in the school class rooms and not amongst politicians.
“Leave the politicians to practice their politics as it is their profession. But you must focus on your education and study hard so that one day, if that is your choice as an adult, you can become a well educated mega-politician,” she admonished the pupils.
She recalled how Pujehun District, prior to the ascendancy of her husband, used to lag behind in terms of education; as year in and year out, Pujehun pupils failed to acquire the requirements for university enrollment. She said as a result, Pujehun suffered from the lack of an educated cadre of upcoming youths.
The First Lady bemoaned that early marriage, teenage pregnancy and dropping out of school became almost the normal trend for many Pujehun girls.
She highlighted that since her husband introduced the Free Quality School Education alongside his Hands Off Our Girls campaign that she was asked to champion, there have been massive and measurable improvements in the story of the Pujehun Child especially the Girl Child.
According to her, enrollment and retention of Pujehun Girls in schools and their subsequent improved academic performance was exponential.
She revealed that for the very first time in the entire history of Pujehun District 412 (four hundred and twelve) school pupils acquired full requirements to enter university whilst more than 600 pupils who had 4 WASSCE credits have been successfully admitted into Technical and Vocational (TEC-VOC) institutions.
She maintained that her husband’s implementation of various “Prioritize Education” projects such as campaigning for children to “Leave Politics for Politicians”, has been successful.
She motivated the pupils of Pujehun District that their future is going to be very bright as a result of the assistance they are receiving from the Government in the form of so many initiatives including the Free School Feeding program in neediest parts of the country.
The First Lady admonished the pupils to do all they can to compete with girls in other regions and districts educationally, so as to make their Pujehun people proud.
“Education is the best gift you can receive from your parents and that is what the President has given to you and all other children across the country. Education is the key that will unlock all doors that stand in your way. With education, you can be the next President Bio from Pujehun,” she inspired them.
The First Lady used the presidential tour as an opportunity to also reach out to parents, guardians, and relatives with her message that the FQSE has been exceptional since its inception. She said pupils now focus on their education and see all reason to stay in school because of the Vision that her husband has for the children of Sierra Leone.
