The Bonthe District Education office in Mattru Jong has started a survey to determine school facilities, teachers and students. Twenty enumerators were recruited and trained for the exercise, which is expected to last for ten days, from July 2 – 11 2018. Each enumerator will cover 14 schools.
The Deputy Director of Education, Mohamed Kamara, said the exercise is to prepare the way for the free education initiative, which starts in September 2018.
“The enumerators, through GPS, will report the number of schools, enrollment, number of active teachers as well as the quality of our school facilities,” Kamara said. He said over 90% of enumerators are indigenes of Bonthe who are familiar with the terrain.
According to current statistics, Bonthe District has 317 schools. There are 101 primary schools with 31 secondary schools, and six technical and vocational institutes. Apparently, there are 181 unapproved schools in the District.
Kamara said the staff situation in the District Education Office is appalling. The office has eight workers. Three of those have retired, which leaves only five people to run the Education Office.
Bonthe District has 11 chiefdoms and a population of just over 200,000 people. “The absence of staff has thwarted the effectiveness and efficiency of the inspectorate office; it is impossible for five people to effectively run the affairs of twelve chiefdoms,” Kamara said.
AB/3/7/2018
By Amara Brima in Bonthe
Wednesday July 04, 2018.
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