September 15, 2021
By Amadi Abadi
A vacancy announcement by the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) vocational Institute for the post of Vice President has disturbed would be male applicants especially male teachers at the institute.
The disturbance is about the requirements for filling the vacancy. According to the vacancy notice all applicant must be female and practicing Christian among other requirements. Apart from the gender and faith conditions many male teachers have the relevant qualifications required to fill the vacancy.
This is gender discrimination remarked a male teacher of YWCA who wished to apply. He said the decision to limit appointment of a Vice Principal to only females had dashed his hopes of reaching the top in the institute after so many years of invaluable service.
YWCA Vocational Institute had once male (Mr. John) Vice Principal. When the principal retired he opted to become principal but he was not allowed to apply based on his sex.
Prof. Alpha Wurie who was Minister of Education at the time argued that YWCA was an all-female institute owned by an all-female organization so it would be absurd to have a male principal.
It was once tried at Harford School for Girls in Moyamba the result was a disaster.
Coincidental that Alpha Wurie is again at the ministry as minister of Higher and technical Education when another gender crisis has erupted at YWCA vocational Institute.
An official of the Ministry feared that getting other male vice principal would lead to the same scenario when he would have the ambition to become principal after the retirement of the current female principal.
This opinion has been criticized by keen observers who referred to Prince of Wales an all male Secondary School which has a female principal currently. Albert Academy can all male Secondary school has a female as principal, observed one of the critics.
However, it can be argued that Prince of Wales a government school is owned by male organization and the United Methodist Church which owns Albert Academy, is also not a male organization.
Meanwhile YWCA is one of the technical institutions properly utilizing the Skills Development Fund provided by the government of Sierra Leone and the World Bank to train young people in various skills. Before implementing the project, the principal conducted training of trainers before orientating the trainees who were provided with learning materials and uniforms free of charge. The trainees’ did not also pay for application forms.
One hundred young girls were admitted to train in dress making, hair dressing, catering and other skills.
There are of course challenges like insufficient furniture accommodation for students and interference into the affairs of the institute by YWCA the proprietors.
For the first time in the history of YWCA Vocational Institute, an alumnus was appointed principal with effect from the 2021 /22. She is Miss. Williete Siaffa daughter of late Inspector General of Police William Siaffa.