The Sierra Leone-Canadian Children’s Aid Society (SLCCAS) has continued with their campaign to eradicate the incidences of high rate of dropouts from schools at the Government Model Secondary School and the Albert Academy Secondary School on the 16th and 17th February 2012 respectively.
The SLCCAS campaign is aimed encouraging school-going pupils to stay in school, be in class and graduate from school and to combat child abuse, teenage pregnancy and crime in schools.
At the Government Model Secondary School, SLCCAS’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mohamed S. Samura expressed thanks and appreciation for the warm welcome accorded him and his organizational entourage by the school staff and pupils.
He explained that his organization is committed at ensuring that they as children stay and complete their education in order that they become productive citizens. He told the children that are a part of the Sierra Leone society even though they are children, pointing out to them that someday they will grow old to take responsibilities at various levels of the society’s strata, and encouraged them to work towards being responsible adults in the future. He also encouraged the pupils to always listen to advices from their parents and other senior citizens they admire in what they do as contributions to the development of their communities and the country as a whole.
He informed his audience that his organization would be sending counselors to their school to help in psycho-social counseling as a way of mitigating the hearts and minds of those children whose hearts and minds may be confused and not focused on education. He asked the pupils to see the counselors as their helpers and encouraged them to cooperate with them once they start visiting their schools.
“If we are to succeed in our quest to reduce the high rate of dropouts from schools, especially the girl-child it will be good that all of you cooperate with our counselors,” he said, and informed that an associate club will be established in the schools to ensure cooperation with the counselors.
He promised to also work in tandem with school teachers and parents to ensure cordiality between children and teachers, teachers and pupils and children and parents and vice versa, noting that with such an arrangement, cordiality for the promotion of the children’s education would be enhanced.
He encouraged the pupils to always be frank and open with the counselors by telling them everything that affects them be it at home or at school.
“Do not be ashamed or be afraid to say whatever you want to say to the counselors,” he stated and went on to encourage the pupils to visit the organization’s head office situated at 17 Percival Street, Freetown and assured them of privacy in whatever transpires between them and the counselors.
The SLCCAS programme was replicated at the Albert Academy Secondary School with similar words of encouragement, promises and assurances.
By Bernard Turay
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