The Sierra Leone National Museum through the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs has engaged pupils taking the current external examinations in Lungi on COVID-19 preventive methods. The engagement which is part of the museum’s cultural heritage outreach program was for pupils taking the exams in the Western Area and the Northwest Region. It is fully funded by the government of Sierra Leone and implemented by the Monuments and Relics Commission. According to the Education Officer at the National Museum, Olivette Linda Barnette, the essence of the Lungi trip is to raise awareness on the deadly coronavirus and to motivate pupils taking the exams.
Both the St Joseph’s Secondary School and St Augustine Agricultural Secondary School of Lungi were presented with face masks, Veronica buckets and hand sanitisers valued at millions of Leones with key awareness messages on how to tackle the coronavirus scourge. She called on both schools to abide by the laid down preventive measures by frequently washing their hands, practicing social distancing and wearing face masks among others.
She said the coronavirus is real and pupils have a responsibility to protect themselves and their loved ones. Madam Barnette encouraged the pupils to eat various fruits including grape fruit, bananas, beans, pineapple and special herbs to keep their brains fresh and ensure they are smarter for the exams. She said for this particular project, eight schools were targeted, among them: Lumley High School, Services Secondary School, Royal Academy Secondary, Annie Walsh Memorial Secondary School and the just concluded schools in Lungi among others. She, however, noted that their work as a museum is not only based in Freetown, as they have also been engaging people in the provinces on different sets of activities about the museum.
Receiving the items on behalf of St Joseph’s Secondary School, acting Vice Principal Alusine Massaquoi applauded the museum’s and partners’ efforts for the gesture he described as timely. Massaquoi assured they will do everything in their midst to ensure they help fight the spread of the virus in that part of the country. After collecting their share of the preventive gears, a St Augustine Agricultural Secondary School student said, “I am very happy about such sensitisation message today on the coronavirus.”
She said as pupils, they will use the message to stop the spread of the virus in the country by engaging other pupils, adding that Freetown is not Sierra Leone and as pupils they should be enjoying said facilities from the central government.
By Mohamed J. Bah