October 6, 2021
By: James Kamara-Manneh
President Bio has delivered on his manifesto promise to introduce best teacher award for the most innovative, ingenious and dedicated teachers at national and district levels. The promise has been consummated at an auspicious event yesterday 5th October, 2021 at an event dubbed Presidential National Best Teacher Award Event ceremony at the Bintumani Conference Centre in Freetown.
Speaking at the program, President described the day as one that needs recognition for the endless service of hard working teachers, who many have been mocked, ridiculed, and under-appreciated,. He said it is rather a day to celebrate and honor them for their service towards humanity.
There are about forty awardees in this maiden event and President Bio promised that teachers will be nominated to represent the country in the upcoming Africa Union Teacher award.
He said “…to the modest prizes, we will be providing to each winner today, these winners will be nominated as Sierra Leone’s nominees to compete in this year’s AU Teacher Prize”.
He further lauded the teachers describing their service as self-sacrificing that worth national recognition. He reassured that they are always ready to ensure and impart knowledge to those in doubt, when mistakes occur, to unsure and frustrated pupils/students or individuals by shaping their minds to become better citizens.
The President called on the private sectors and other institutions to play active role in changing the narrative of teachers in the country. He further extended olive branch to them to forge partnership that improves the quality of teachers and of teaching in Sierra Leone which will lead to better student outcomes and higher student achievement and completion rates.
“If we should participate actively in the global order; we must and should do better at educating our next generation of leaders” President Bio concluded.
Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary School MBSSE, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh spoke also at the event and highlighted the crucial achievements of the Ministry so far. He spoke on the 63344 system as opposed to the 6334 system of education. He also alluded to present establishment of an accurate data for all schools from 2012 to 2021.
He revealed that the education budget has been increased to 22% and there had been coordination of various donors towards education progress. H also spoke about the system put in place to track donor resources invested in the education sector. He also cited the establishment of 212 centers for adult literacy and the innovations introduced in checking results through mobile phones irrespective of its brand in order to reduce the cost on parents to check the results of their kids.
“We have drafts of curriculum been set out and working with organizations like Small Medium Enterprise Development Agency to improve literacy programs and improve the lives of women” said Dr. Sengeh.
The CEO of Sierra Leone Teaching Service Commission, Madam Josephine Saidu gave an overview of the selection process. She said there were three panels of judges at district, regional, and national levels and comprised five stages, the district and regional panels constituting members of the House of Parliaments from the districts and regions and other organizations inclusive of then Sierra Leone teachers union, the national council, and conference of principles, civil society, SLAJ, the private sector and the students.
Those with observer status are the Inter Religious Council, the Anti-Corruption Commission, Audit Service Sierra Leone, and District Councils.
The selection stages included the nominations, eligibility, assessments, interviews and verification. At the Nomination stage teachers were nominated by either students or quality teachers then vetted and endorse by heads of schools or boards. At the initial stage 160 shortlisted nominees were selected by the district panel of judges based on four eligibility criteria as follows; they should be full times trained and qualified pre primary or secondary school teachers in the government or government assisted school, they should have consistent demonstration of higher performance and dedication of at least five years and practicing the profession in line with the teaching.
According to Madam Saidu “In the assessment stage three members from primary, secondary that is teachers were selected on their profiles and accomplishments, the teaching code of conduct the professional standards, general knowledge of the TSC, confidence and appearance and for the final stage 15 members were selected based on the criteria of professionalism, teaching excellence, students and school development, their contributions towards education sector and their communities.”
The program was climaxed with presentation of awards and certificates to long time serving teachers and others. President Bio, First Lady Fatima Bio, Chief Minister Jacob Saffa and other prominent personalities made the presentations.