President Julius Maada Bio has launched a Le9,771, 655,000 skills development fund for locals in two eastern region districts; Kenema and Kailahun. The project, as per design, is expected to benefit over 1,660 citizens in that part of the country. The president expressed delights and joy over the launch of the development fund targeting the two districts pointing that the aim of the fund is geared toward his government’s, values and passion for the transformation of the country through education.
He stated education should be treated seriously, stressing that it is the only means to lasting development. Bio disclosed that, the fund would be used to incorporate those who could not make it to universities and colleges especially after their entrance examinations, thereby making them very useful for nation-building.
He told the youth in the two districts to take their education seriously as education is a universal key that unlocks every door. “Education is good for nation-building and for personal development. Therefore, I urge you all to make every effort to support this program. The future ahead of us is very challenging and it is only education that will prepare us all for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This Skills Development Fund will help foster education in this part of the country,” he concluded as he launched the fund.
The Member of Parliament for Constituency 008 in Njaluahun Chiefdom, Kailahun District, Wuyata Bernadette Songa, thanked the President for according her, the opportunity to host the launch of the Skills Development Fund. She noted that such an initiative would go a long way to strengthen and deepen the foundation of the Free Quality Education program, and encouraged her people particularly the youth to take good care of such an opportunity, which according to her would help improve on the country’s middle level manpower.
The Minister for Tertiary and Higher Education, Professor Aiah Gbakima, thanked the World Bank for partnering with them on the project, adding that it would cater for students who didn’t get requirements to enter universities and colleges. He said with skills training like carpentry, tailoring, mechanics among others, by their estimation, by 2023 it is expected that the fund would have covered about 8,000 beneficiaries.
The Paramount Chief of Njaluahun Chiefdom, James Sheriff Coker-Jajua, expressed joy for receiving the President, but most importantly for the launch of the skills development fund in his chiefdom that would support middle-level manpower through technical education. He said, “I am humbled to welcome you all to Njaluahun Chiefdom and to tell you that the Free Quality Education has really helped the poor people of this country including my chiefdom, which we are grateful to this government for.”
The Minister of Finance, Jacob Jusu Saffa revealed that the project is a government of Sierra Leone owned project, but based on partnership and commitments, they partnered with the World Bank for the implementation of the first phase of the project in the Eastern Region of the country.
He highlighted that, “The World Bank has seen the political will of this administration to make education accessible to everyone in the country. And this skills development initiative is in line with the 2018 manifesto of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party government.”
The Minister furthered that, the Skills Development Fund has over Le120 billion to span through 2024, adding that the more funding the program got, the more government would extend the implementation to other districts.
By Mohamed Kabba