By Mary Kabay
The United Bank for Africa Foundation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School, has on Friday 13th November, 2020 launched their 2020 National Essay Competition during a news conference that was held at the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) Conference Hall at New England Ville in Freetown.
The National Essay Competition was launched by the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Dr. David Moinina Sengeh who during the launch commended UBA Foundation for this laudable initiative.
According to him, the essay competition offers an opportunity for pupils in examination classes to strengthen their critical thinking, civics, and other skills relevant for their growth.
“Winners will be given an opportunity to win a scholarship grant for their university education up to the limits of Le50 million, Le30 million and Le20 million for the first, second and third positions respectively,” he disclosed.
NEC is a UBA Foundation Initiative that was initiated in 2011 as part of the Foundation’s drive to improve the access to education for the under-privileged across Africa.
This year will marks the launch of the National Essay Competition in Sierra Leone in conjunction with the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE).
In so doing, children across the country will be given an opportunity to participate in the life changing competition. “The NEC is also being launched in Sierra Leone to compliment the Sierra Leonean Government’s efforts in promoting quality education in the country,” Usman Isiaka, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of UBA Sierra Leone pointed out.
He disclosed that participants must submit their hand-written essays not later than 11th December 2020 at 4:00 PM at the MBSSE district offices, at UBA Bank headquarters located at 15 Charlotte Street, Freetown, or at the bank’s branch locations anywhere in the country. All essays submitted must include the participant’s;
full name, Age, Town and district, School name ,full name and telephone number of participant’s teacher, full name and telephone number of participant’s parent/guardian, participant’s essay, and the essay’s word count (number of words used in the essay)
All essays must be about the following topic: During the COVID-19 pandemic school closures, explain the interventions you wished you had implemented to make your life at home or your community more comfortable.
The word count should be between 450 and 500 words, and all essays must have a title. The essays will be judged based on their structure, grammar, illustrations of ideas, and their creativity.
Essays submitted by participants at the 16 district levels will be marked by a panel of academic judges, who will be selected by the MBSSE and UBA. Announcement of the 12 finalists of the competition will be made over TV broadcast, radio and newspaper. The 12 national finalists will be contacted using the information provided in the application for further details and next steps.
Finalists will be supported to travel to Freetown with either their teacher, parent or guardian to compete in the final round (travel, lodging and feeding of winners and their supervisors will be provided by organizers). Finalists will write a second essay, which will be evaluated for selecting the first, second and third place national winners that will get the scholarship grant while all the 12 Finalists will each receive a Laptop. The final round will be broadcast live on an AYV TV Show.
All submissions must be handwritten and not typed. They can be submitted through one of the following methods: Email: cfcsierra-leone@ubagroup.com,WhatsApp number: +23275142718, dropped off at the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education District Offices or HEAD OFFICE (New England Ville, Inspectorate Office)any UBA Sierra Leone Office
