The Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for Ireland, Niall Burgess, on Tuesday disclosed that having conquered the fight against the ebola virus, education is the only thing that will take Sierra Leone to another level.
He made this disclosure during a day visit together with his team from Ireland and a delegation from the United Kingdom to the Forum for African Woman Empowerment (FAWE) Resource Centre to see the Government’s programme for the education of pregnant adolescents who are presently gaining some education at the moment.
Niall Burgess led the Irish delegation whiles the Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Sir Simon McDonald, led the UK delegation which earlier on Tuesday paid a visit to President Ernest Bai Koroma to congratulate him for making the country ebola free and now providing facilities for teenage pregnant girls who were not allowed by the Education Ministry to take public exams or sit in class with other girls.
During the visit, the Irish and UK delegations were given the opportunity to go round the classes where pregnant and lactating teenage girls were being thought in various disciplines from Junior Secondary School (JSS1-JSS3) and Senior Secondary Schools (SSS1) who only attend classes during the afternoon session as they are using the facilities of other people, according to the Project Coordinator and Principal, Joseph B.M Kosia.
According to the Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for Ireland, Niall Burgess, both the Irish and the UK Governments have been supporting Sierra Leone before and during the ebola outbreak and since the re-opening of schools teenage pregnant and lactating mothers where not allowed to go to school, which was why they decided to visit the country and see how best they can continue to support the Government in providing alternatives for these girl as they have started at FAWE.
“I think we come now because we are thinking about the future for Sierra Leone just like the people are looking to the future. I feel certainly that Sierra Leone has a great future of which part is here in the schools on the education for the next generation,” he maintained, explaining that it is important nobody is left behind in terms of education which was why they visited the teenage pregnant and lactating mothers at the FAWE Resources Centre.
“With education Sierra Leone can have a brighter future. I came from Ireland where education transformed everything. 50 years ago we gave access to university education to all students which completely changed the society, so I think Sierra Leone can achieve the same,” he stated.
According to the Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Sir Simon McDonald, the purpose of their visit was to ensure the plans of the Sierra Leone Government are in the same platform with those of his country for a better Sierra Leone as they are all hopeful for a better future.
He maintained that many people have suffered the consequences of the ebola crisis which is why it is very important no one gets left behind in accessing education as ‘everybody has been given the opportunity to move forward together which is very vital in any society, explaining that it was wonderful to hear the wonderful ambition of the young adolescent pregnant and lactating girls wishing to become supporters in their own communities.
Speaking on behalf of the FAWE Fort Street Teenage Pregnancy and Lactating Mothers Educational Centre, the Coordinator Joseph B.M Kosia, disclosed that they are teaching the girls to get them back on track and to prepare them for the normal schooling after some period of time.
He maintained that they also engaged them on trauma healing counselling as many of them have been traumatised due to what happened to them, explaining that they have been in operation for a month now with three days teaching (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) in the afternoon hours.
Mr Kosia disclosed that as at present they have about 125 girls in the centre as they are expecting more girls for the programme, adding that initially they found it difficult with the girls but now things are going smoothly as they now realise their essence of attending the classes, even though some of the lactating girls come with their child during class which is one of their greatest challenge.
Wednesday November 18, 2015
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