On Saturday 4th March 2023, the CEO of the Ibrahim Brima Swarray who doubles as the Chief Executive of the “transforming” National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA), Chief Ibrahim Brima Swarray has with his Foundation organized the 15th Quiz and Debate Competition at the Thomas Saquee Resource auditorium Kaoquima, Koidu City.
The process which was postponed due to circumstances beyond human control last weekend, received a successful re-run today (Wednesday 8th March 2023) at Fachima Hall Kono District. This episode has made Kono District benefit from the process three times now.
The Foundation organized its first quiz and debate competition on the 5th of December 2020 at the Kenema Youth Center Conference Hall with a firm commitment to ensure every child in Sierra Leone has benefited from it. Since that time, a total of 15th competitions have been held in various Districts and regions across the country (East, South, and Northern) with impressive star prizes including but not limited to learning materials.
The theme for the 15th Quiz and Debate competitions organized by the Ibrahim Brima Swarray’s Foundation so far is “Strengthening Civic and Non-violence Engagement through Quality Education for National Cohesion and Democratic Government”.
In his keynote address, Chief Ibrahim Brima Swarray explained that Free Quality Education is the flagship program of the New Direction administration and was launched on August 20, 2018. As an apprentice of the citizens-centered President, he said he was honored in promoting the government’s programs.
He called on the participating School pupils to think beyond emerging as winners and to focus on their studies and the experience they are gaining from the competition. He revealed that the exercise would go national by the next academic year, adding that next year winner of the Quiz and debate competition would represent Kono District in the National competition in Freetown.
Mr. Swarray explained that His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio has achieved huge success in narrowing the gender gaps; especially in promoting girls’ education in the Country. The NPPA Boss emphasized that promoting the government’s Free Quality Education and Human Capital Development on several occasions should be the duty of any good citizen.
He called on the pupils to campaign to their parents to work side-by-side with the government in delivering necessary support towards the Free Quality Education that has helped to reduce the number of school dropouts in the country.
“While my Foundation continues to organize quiz and Debate competitions, and provide exercise books, pens, pencils, and University fees, I am encouraging parents, guardians, and teachers to show commitment to the education of their children. It is the responsibility of teachers to teach properly and the duty of the parents to ensure that their children go to, and stay at school for the full school period, and have time to do homework and rest. Subjecting the child to excessive chores, and sending them hawk during school hours instead of schooling will not be acceptable.” He admonished.
He said that the government has spent a huge quantum of money to ensure the FQE program becomes a success.
He recalled that the Free Quality School Education was launched on the 20th of August 2018 by President Julius Maada Bio and that the scheme was predicated on the need to reverse the slump in the standard of education that had riddled the country over the past decade and to re-position the country to attain Sustainable Development Goal 4.
“The FQE Programme has succeeded in increasing access to quality education by providing a positive and conducive learning environment for school-going children under the supervision of trained and qualified teachers with adequate teaching and learning resources.” Chief Swarray claimed.
He stated that the government has been and is still committed to providing the package in the scheme the payment of school and admission fees from Pre-primary to Senior Secondary School for pupils in both Government and Government-assisted schools, payment of examination fees for pupils taking public exams (NPSE, BECE, and WASSCE), provision of textbooks in core subjects for pupils across all levels, provision of teaching and learning materials, and provision of School Feeding Programme to deprived communities across the country. The very reason the people say we are the “Tok n Do” government.
Cluny Junior and Senior Secondary championed both the quiz and Debate competitions including other outstanding Schools. Star prizes to deserving pupils and certifications climaxed the event.
