Teach for Sierra Leone, a non- partisan, pragmatist and utilitarian organization that seeks to make a substantial sustained and wide-ranging contribution to the improvement of education in Sierra Leone was yesterday launched at the British Council auditorium.
In his statement under the topic ‘education and transformation’ Herbert M’cleod said that the world has changed so much that education is no longer a privilege, it is an absolute necessity and human right, because if you want to earn your living you must be able to read and write. If we want to go to middle income earner level and if we want to match towards prosperity, we must fix education or else we will be marginalized.
Education is also a means of survival for some, as it is the most important factor in the Millennium development goals, he emphasized.
He went further to say that there should be a comprehensive review of our educational system in the country, in order to have a better future for the children, as parents must take part in the transformation of education in the country.
In his keynote address, under the topic ‘problematizing educational disadvantage’, Professor Jimmy Kandeh said that what they are about to do is a huge undertaking, as they have set goals that they will achieve.
He firmly believes that knowledge is not for us to sit on it but should be shared, thereby making your society a better place.
He also said that he wants to share his knowledge, with those around him,on the idea of TFSL.
This initiative simply means teach for yourself and your country in order to empower others, as it can lift the society out of poverty.
The keynote speaker added that the country cannot be transformed, if the majority of Sierra Leoneans are illiterate, as there is no country in the world that is developed with majority of its people illiterate.
“We must firstly try to attack the problem of illiteracy and ignorance, as it is a serious problem in our country,” he said.
He also said that Teach for Sierra Leone is modeled after “Teach for America” as America is much more limited, since it is a developed country unlike Sierra Leone where most of the people are underprivileged as they will be looking at junior senior secondary and college level of education.
Several recommendations and contributions were made by the audience.
By Nancy Koroma
August 14, 2013
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