By: Ahmed Mohamed Kaikai
Honorable Beatrice Maya Kangbai, Member of Parliament for Bo District, has donated learning materials to over 200 top-performing pupils from 50 primary schools across Cluster 3 in the district.
The donation, aimed at motivating academic excellence, was directed at pupils who ranked first to third in the 2025 National Primary School Examination (NPSE). The items donated included exercise books, pens, pencils, and geometry sets.
The donation drive, which took place over two days from Tuesday, September 23, to Wednesday, September 24, covered four major locations in Tikonko Chiefdom: Tikonko Town, the Islamic Secondary School (Sami 2 Section), Gondama Township, and Sembehun 17.
“These pupils have taken their first national exam and performed exceptionally well,” said Hon. Kangbai during the closing ceremony in Sembehun 17. “They deserve to be celebrated. This is my way of encouraging them to aim even higher and showing that their success matters.”
The initiative, coordinated by Mohamed A.K. Fofana, was launched last year and has continued into the current academic year. Fofana emphasized that the initiative aims not only to reward academic performance but also to inspire pupils in rural schools to take their studies seriously.
“We want all Class 6 pupils in Cluster 3 to know that hard work pays off,” Fofana remarked. “This donation is a symbol of recognition and encouragement.”
Among the beneficiaries was 11-year-old Juliet Fatimati Kumbeh, a former pupil of Baptist Primary School in Bo, who now attends the Islamic Junior Secondary School in Sami 2 Section. Juliet scored 307 in the NPSE, placing second in her school.
“I received 12 exercise books, five pens, five pencils, and a math set,” Juliet shared. “It’s a big help, and I thank Hon. Kangbai. I just wish we could have received the items before school started. I also want to tell other pupils to study hard so they can benefit too.”
Hon. Kangbai, known for her grassroots approach to leadership, explained that the initiative is part of her broader plan to support the government’s human capital development drive, especially for children in underserved areas.
“This is only the beginning,” she promised. “Next year, I plan to expand the package to include school uniforms and backpacks. We want to ensure that pupils move on to junior secondary school equipped and confident.”
The events were well attended by school administrators, parents, and local leaders, many of whom praised Hon. Kangbai for her hands-on involvement in community development.