The Deputy Minister of Education Youth and Sport Dr. Lansana Nyallay has maintained that “our educational system is internally bleeding, and it is likely to go to intensive care unit very shortly”.
He made the statement during his key note address commemorating the World Teachers Day at the Hotel 5: 10 in the east end of Freetown.
During his speech, he gave a retrospective background on the appalling performance of students on examinations at both internal and external levels. He said that the 6334 system of education is not duly planned to meet the examination requirements, taking into cognizance the time frame provided for students for due preparations.
He also recommended that the two-shift system be redefined to enable pupils spend more time on their academic work instead of spending time engaged in extra-curricula activities.
This, he said, can be improved by allotting at least eight hours of learning at school for students preparing for both internal and external examinations.
He stressed that the problem is both worrying and alarming and said it is high time we declared a total national war on the poor performance on public examination and the declining educational standard and quality.
All these can be achieved by investing in teachers and teaching materials.
The president of the Sierra Leone Teachers Union Abdulai Brima Koroma in his welcome address said that there is the need for the full involvement of the union in education planning and implementation, adding that the union should not be considered a lap-dog in terms of taking a critical decision in the academic process.
He said that one of SLTU’s corporate responsibilities is to ensure quality education for the citizenry of Sierra Leone and therefore work within the confines of the ministry’s stipulated rules and regulations.
He echoed the president’s call for ghost teachers finding their grades if appropriate measures are put in place for it to gain effectiveness. He claimed that the SLTU has never been part of corrupt practices in the education sector, and can never be.
He pledged the total support of membership in making sure that the system is thoroughly cleaned for the benefit of all. He mentioned that the unity the union enjoys is as a result of the unyielding support of membership to foster education and build the future of our present generation and generations yet unborn.
By Poindexter Sama
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