By: Fatmata Grace Okekearu, Bo City
Over the weekend, the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) successfully hosted its Southern Regional Assessment for the District Winners of the 2024 Presidential National Best Teacher Awards. The event showcased exceptional teachers from four districts—Bo, Bonthe, Moyamba, and Pujehun- competing in primary and secondary school categories.
The panel responsible for selecting the regional winners was composed of prominent representatives from a diverse array of institutions, including the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Audit Service Sierra Leone, Local Councils, Sierra Leone Teachers Union (SLTU), National Council of Head Teachers, Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (CPSS), Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), civil society organizations, and the Chairman of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Basic and Senior Secondary Education. Other participants included officials from the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), the Inter-Religious Council, traditional leaders, and a student representative. Together, they undertook a rigorous adjudication process to select the regional winners who will attend the National Best Teacher Awards ceremony.
The distinguished teachers chosen to represent the Southern Region in the upcoming national competition were Emmanuel Maada Moriba of Bo District in the Primary School category and Sulaiman A. Sengeh from Bonthe District in the Secondary School category. Both educators emerged victorious following a detailed evaluation of their dedication, innovation, and impact in the classroom.
Madam Marian Abu, Director of Teacher Management at the TSC, praised the initiative, which President Julius Maada Bio launched in 2018 to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of the nation’s most exemplary teachers.
She noted that the panel was carefully curated to maintain transparency and integrity throughout the selection process. Madam Abu emphasized that the TSC’s role was solely facilitative, ensuring that the selection was free from bias.
In her remarks, Madam Abu extended her heartfelt gratitude to the adjudicators for their commitment to fairness and congratulated the winners for their stellar performances. She encouraged them to continue preparing for the national competition, which will take place on October 5th, in celebration of World Teachers’ Day. She urged teachers across the region to rally behind the winners as they move on to represent the Southern Region on the national stage.
Bo City would host the national awards ceremony for the first time, an exciting shift from the usual Freetown venue. Madam Abu revealed that past winners received substantial recognition, including NLe 45,000 and a plot of land. She assured the public that this year’s awards will be even more momentous, with greater rewards in store for the finalists.
Speaking after his victory, Emmanuel Maada Moriba, who teaches at B.T.C Experimental Primary School in Bo, expressed his delight at winning the regional competition. He promised to give his best at the national level and proudly represent the Southern Region.
Sulaiman A. Sengeh, the principal of Centennial Secondary School in Bonthe District, expressed similar sentiments after winning the Secondary School category. Reflecting on his 35 years of service to the teaching profession, he called the award a significant milestone in his career. Sengeh urged his colleagues to remain steadfast and dedicated to their teaching responsibilities, believing that hard work and commitment would always be rewarded.
The 2024 edition of the Presidential National Best Teacher Awards would be a landmark event to honor the dedication and innovation of teachers who continue to inspire and uplift the nation’s educational system. All eyes are now on the upcoming national ceremony, where the country’s best teachers will be celebrated for their remarkable contributions.
