By Foday Moriba Conteh
To complement Government’s efforts in the fight against corruption and to combat corruption in the educational sector in the county, the West African Youth Network (WAYN) in partnership with Patriotic Advocacy Network (PAN) has on Saturday 14th March, 2020 held an Anti-Corruption float parade on the theme: “Combating Injustice, Marginalization and Corruption in the Educational Sector”. The float parade took place from Up Gun to Syke Street in Freetown.
Speaking to this medium in an interview, Assistant Executive Director, West Africa Youth Network, James Fortune, disclosed that WAYN & PAN-SL decided to undertake this Anti-Corruption parade because corruption is a menace in our society and has taken the centre stage in the educational sector, noting that with this campaign they will be able to promote education and join the fight against corruption in the educational sector in the country. He said they brought together students from different institutions to raise awareness on the fight against corruption in schools and the country as a whole.
James said it is no secret that the educational sector in Sierra Leone faces huge challenges ranging from sex for grade, marginalization, injustice, corruption noting that corruption in the educational system is the order of the day and it has eaten into the fabric of our educational system.
He called on young people join the fight to eradicate corruption in the educational sector and urged them to serve as catalysts for change saying they must reject corruption and be prepared to expose malpractices.
On his part, Executive Director of Patriotic Advocacy Network, Ansumana Keita, expressed appreciation to pupils who turned out in their numbers to take part in the parade, saying they have manifested their commitment in the fight against corruption in the educational sector.
He said the campaign started in 2018 and that as an organization they have been engaging on awareness raising in schools, communities, adding that they have succeeded in establishing sound and active school chapters in various schools who are now serving as Ambassadors in the fight against corruption in their various schools.
He said for far too long the educational sector in the country has been faced with a lot of challenges ranging from injustice, marginalization, sex for grade, sexual harassment and corruption which they believe has been a major factor for the downfall of the educational sector in the country.
An ACC official from the Public Relations Department, Junisa S.E Sankoh, applauded WAYN & PAN-SL for joining the fight against corruption pointing out how the Anti-Corruption float parade will send a very powerful message to parents, teachers, Government for the need to eradicate corruption in our beloved nation.
He assured participants that the Anti-Corruption Commission is ready to work with them in order to combat corruption in the educational sector, adding that as a Commission they have a passion for education and that is why they have been working with stakeholders in order to make the educational sector corruption free.
He urged the pupils to be living examples in their various schools, communities and anywhere they find themselves, noting that the fight against corruption is everybody’s business saying with collaboration Sierra Leone will be corrupt free in the years to come.
