By: Problyn J. Alpha
Upholding integrity is fundamental not only to achieving learning outcomes but also to restoring the prestige of the country’s education system. This statement was made by Peter K. Abdulai, assistant director, Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), Bo District in a Sensitization meeting organized by the anti-corruption commission (ACC) Southern Region Office. The engagement was held at the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) conference room, Baima Road in Bo. Those who attended the meeting were representatives from the ministry, Sierra Leone teachers Union, Teachers Service Commission, conference of principles for secondary schools, national council of Head teachers and civil society organizations.
Mr. Abdulai said the engagement was considered as a continuous professional development platform which provided the opportunity to engage in a frank conversation on some of the challenges faced with in Basic education system and also to proffer ways of addressing them in their respective institutions.
He commended the ACC for setting up integrity management committees in Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAS) as they will help to addressing systems, weaknesses in these MDAs and appealed for such structures to be replicated in schools across the country. Speaking at the meeting, ACC’s senior public education officer, Abdulai Saccoh, acknowledged the continued resolve demonstrated by some teachers and school authorities in making sure that school environment is free from illegal practices. Mr. Saccoh said the illegal practices in schools are among the teachers responsible for the decline in the standards of education in the country. He recognized that despite the huge resources the education sector continues to attract the desired objectives would be farfetched if the sector is inundated with illegal practices. He said the ACC is not oblivious of some of the challenges faced by schools and teachers, but advised them not be tempted to compromise their integrity.
The senior public education officer called on the MBSSE to continue to embark on robust monitoring exercise of schools and ensure defaulters are punished for their actions.
He called on the teaching service commission (TSC) to adhere to the correct processes and procedures in the recruitment of teachers, principals and head teachers to intensity their supervision of teachers, and take appropriate actions when necessary.
Civil Society organizations should continue with the monitoring of the implementation process of the free quality education and report to the appropriate authorities where they discover issues of concern Saccoh Concluded.