The Ministry of Education Youth and Sport (MEYS) in collaboration with the Kenema City Council (KCC) and Kenema District Councils (KDC) have held a one day meeting with heads of schools and proprietors in the district at the Kenema district council hall along Maxwell Khobe Street in Kenema.
Addressing the heads of schools, the Deputy Director of Education (DDE) Kenema district John Amara Swaray expressed delight to the head teachers for their quick response to his call. He said the purpose of the meeting is to deliberate on the school fees subsidies right now under the control of the two councils in the district as no one has monopoly over knowledge. He said the school management committee is a board for the people school in the community. Adding that he wants to share the knowledge on how the fees will be properly utilized by the school authorities and the methods that are required in getting access to the subsidies.
Mr. Swaray said they will not sympathise with any body who is caught making extra charges in schools. He says such defaulters will be demoted to another post. He cautioned parents to hold a meeting with their teachers and tell them that the ministry will not want to hear of any extortion of money in the name of shake hand, top up, buy the cake, good bye among others. The Deputy Director commended the two councils for their commitment to the education system in the district.
In his contribution the Chairman Kenema district council Patrick Sarmu thanked the Deputy Director Education for the significant role played in the educational field in the district. He commended the teachers for the good service delivered to the children adding that they were elected to represent the people and they have an obligation to serve the people. Mr. Sarmu described the meeting as important as it deals with the life and value of the children of this country. He pointed out the role of the councils towards education as government has instructed them to ensure the proper management and utilization of government funds and the school subsidies are among the decentralization process. He cautioned heads of schools for proper use of the subsidy, adding more is expected of them by the community and the councils.
The Chief Administrator of the District Council Charles Kallon disclosed that the school subsidies were now in the councils accounts and needed the commitment of head teachers to give the correct report to them based on the subsidy given to them. He added that very shortly government will hand over the payment of teachers salaries to the councils. Mr. Kallon explained the banking system toward the payment of the subsidies and the turn out to teachers. The fees are meant only for the running of the schools and there is no percentage to anybody or department or is attached to the school.
Contributing the finance officer for Kenema City Council Karmoh Sartie said government has primarily pushed the preparation process to councils, and it is now the responsibility of the councils to ensure proper command of schools in using the subsidy.
He added that any school that fails to use the fund properly will be deprived of the next school subsidy and called on school authorities to cooperate with the councils.
By Saffa Moriba in Kenema
ADVERTISEMENT