The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education S.A Tamu has requested from the Cuban government a Cuba – Sierra Leone friendship centre where students nominated for courses to be pursued in Cuba could learn Spanish for at least three months before proceeding for studies in Cuba.
Presenting a proposal by the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports for assistance by the Cuban Government at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Tamu requested the Cuban government to provide 50 scholarships annually for Sierra Leoneans students in the field of medicine, engineering, information technology and other related fields of study for a five–year period.
He also asked that, training facilities be created for officials of the Ministry ranging from one to 12 months with the provision of sponsorship.
Mr Tamu further requested that the Cuban government establish and equip 150 literacy and non- formal community based centres nation wide and provide honorarium for the teachers for the first five years.
Train 2,000 teachers for literacy, non formal and community based education in all established literacy centres; and that scholarships be provided for sports officials for specialist courses.
The Permanent Secretary asked that, for the rehabilitation of lawn tennis, basket ball and volley ball and goal post courts in every district, nets football, providing training for technical and vocational specialists.
He disclosed that in the field of sports, coaches are needed to help upgrade performance in the following track and field event; sprints, distance running, jump and throw, and coaches are also required for the following games; volley ball, basketball, tennis, handball and table tennis.
Mr Tamu also requested support to technical and vocational institutions in computer studies, provision for workshops, laboratory equipments to replace obsolete ones and also provide funds for the rehabilitation and furnishing of the Ministry’s resource centre.
These requests were made to the visiting delegation of the Sierra Leone/Cuba joint Commission.