December 10, 2021
BY MOHAMED M. SESAY
Aruna I. Kamara of Daru Salam Islamic Secondary School in Waterloo, Has yesterday the 9th of December 2021, emerged as the best debater in the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone’s debating competition. Aruna Kamara won the debate with 94% while the runners up Sallieu Kamara from the Prince of Wales scored 93%.
Other participants in the debating competition include Salmatu B. Bangura from Government Model Secondary School score 53%, Kassimu Kargbo of Ahmadiyya Secondary School scored 71%, Yaeli Conteh of Sierra Leone Muslim Brotherhood Secondary School Scored 74%, and Zainell Mary Kargbo of the International Secondary School scored 91%
In his opening statement, the Vice Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission Victor Idrissa Lansana said when people know their rights that will be the beginning of fighting for their rights and the rights of another person. He added that the essence of organizing such debating competition is to understand Human Rights issues and how the nation will come together in ensuring that a culture of Human Right is built up.
Victor Lansana referenced that during the eleven years rebel war, there was no strong culture of Human Right in the country. He added that since the Commission started operation in 2006, the country has seen laudable improvement coupled with dramatic changes in terms of upholding good human right principles. Due to the effective work of the commission, he said citizens are now obliging government in ensuring that government adheres to its obligations without hindrance.
“So the Human Right Commission is very pleased to see you here today to participate in this very important debating competition. Over the years if you look at grate people in our society, they stated at this inter secondary school debate. Leadership start from here”, he said.
He continued that a leader without good communications skills will not be a good leader. He therefore, assured the debaters that the competition will serve as a training ground for them to be successful leaders. He also encouraged them to treat debating competition very seriously in order to develop themselves in becoming good leaders in the future.
Victor Lansana also told the debaters that they have the potentials of becoming president, ministers and other state actors. He furthered that the topic they chose for the debate “Safe seat should be reserved for women in Politics”, was very deliberate because the Commission is aware of Government‘s effort to protect women in society. He added that the Commission has also seen over the years how the rights of girls have been abused which are the more reason they chose such topic for the debate.
He concluded by informing the audience that a bill has been laid in parliament for women empowerment. He also disclosed that today the 10th of December is celebrated as International Human Right Day and the theme of the celebration is “breaching inequality”.
On his part, the National Coordinator for the Sierra Leone Debating Council Moses Moor Conteh Acknowledged that every child has a right to quality education which is the more reason the Human Right Commission has been working tirelessly in supporting education for school going pupils. He added that a debate of such nature aligns with President Bio’s Dreams of providing quality education for pupils in Sierra Leone.
Moses Conteh elucidated further that quality education is not just about passing examinations but rather about good presentation and good critical thinking skills coupled with sound communications skills. He added that education also has to do with good negotiation by translating the skills in to tangible development.
The National Coordinator of the Sierra Leone Debating Council commended that Human Right Commission for what he described as a great value the commission is adding towards the promotion of quality education across the country. He also admonished the debaters that education is not just about a mere certification but rather skills acquisition.
Moses Moor Conteh also intimated that a lot of people are certified but not educated due to their lack of real time applicability of what they learnt in school. He concluded by encouraging the debaters and the audience in general to see the debate as a means of acquiring good communication skill.
In his victory message, the Winner of the 2021 Human Rights Commission’s Inter-Secondary School Debate Aruna I. Kamara of Daru Salam Islamic Secondary School said he was more than excited to have won such Human Rights debate medal. He added that his school came all the way from Waterloo to beat International Secondary School, Prince of Wales School among others. He also intimated that his school having defeated great schools in the competition deserves a grade A title. He concluded by expressing his profound gratitude to the Human Rights Commission for organizing such education programme.