Bad governance is one of the factors that have weakened every facet in Sierra Leone’s political and socio-economical development, Fatima Institute in Makeni has identified this and has come up with a solution.
“The main thrust of the Fatima Institute, which was established in October 2005 with two faculties and 96 students, was to train leaders,” the director Dr Joseph Turay explained to a Norwegian youth politician delegation which paid a curtsey call on the institute.
“Governance is a big issue, a challenge in our country, [that is why] we want to integrate our governance programme by establishing a school of politics at the Fatima Institute,” said the director.
He explained that the institute with 392 students at present had provided leadership training for political leaders and civil society.
Not long ago, the director accentuated, “62 councillors were trained by the institute.”
Dr Turay disclosed that the institute had designed courses for parliamentarians, adding that the intension of the institute was to train political leaders.
The director also heightened that, “we are looking forward to make it a university,” describing the institute’s performance in the last public exams as ‘excellent.’
Dr Turay averred that youths who were not part of the institute were also trained as they were having programmes designed for youths in various communities.
He also explained to the delegation about Sierra Leone’s Poverty Reduction Strategic Paper (PRSP). “The PRSP is a development plan which is country owned and result oriented. The plan is based on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),” he explained.
Silas Kenyehky, Dean of Academic Studies, explained that the institute was destroyed during the war. “Education management is very important in a country which actually needs to start from the dregs of a bloody war. There is a lot that needs to be done,” he said.
The dean appealed for exchange of programmes between students of the institute and Norway.
This, he said, would not only foster strong ties between the two countries but would also give students wealth of experience.
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