By Foday Moriba Conteh
Vice President Juldeh Jalloh on Friday 26th June, 2020 commissioned the newly constructed library for the Rural Education Committee Primary School in Russel Town along the Waterloo-Tombo Road. Vice President Jalloh, on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone, expressed thanks and appreciation to Rotary Club for supporting communities to improve learning outcomes by providing furniture and library for the school. Dr. Jalloh underscored the relevance of education, adding that the New Direction Government has education as its flagship programme. “Government is providing free teaching and learning materials,” Dr. Jalloh underscored.
The soft spoken Vice President stated that one key element missing in most schools in the last two years is library. He described the reintroduction of the culture of library to schools as a good gesture. Dr. Jalloh appealed to Rotary Club to build more libraries beyond Russel community in order to restore the culture of reading.
The library, the Vice President maintained, is meant for reading and not sleeping. He therefore encouraged the teachers and the community leaders to motivate their children to better maximize the utilization of the teaching and learning materials with the opening of the library. The Vice President noted that the learning outcome of the school will now be measured by the library. “The school should now improve on the learning outcome, by passing excellently in the National Primary School Examination (NPSE), now that there is a library,” Vice President Jalloh added.
He called on school authorities to ensure pupils perform excellently in NPSEif they want to continue getting more supports from Rotary Club, Government of Sierra Leone and other donors. He concluded by donating one computer to the school meant to track all books in the library.
Abraham Cole-Deputy, Head Teacher of the school informed the gathering that the school was established in 1913. He thanked Rotary Club for the construction of the library. Mr. Cole described a library as the backbone of teaching and learning and appealed for the proper use of the library. He referred to Rotary Club as a wonderful partner of the school also expressing thanks for support in the provision of furniture and the library.
Michaela Khadijatu Serry-President Rotary Club of Freetown Sunset disclosed that the cost for the construction of the library was three hundred million Leones and was generated from contributions of members. She maintained that her decision to initiate the construction of the library was due to the dwindling interest of children in reading. The Freetown Sunset President expressed hope for the children to now inculcate the habit of reading. The ceremony was climaxed with the cutting of the tape and formal opening of the library by the Honourable Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
