By: Problyn J. Alpha
The administration of Bo Government Secondary School, popularly known as Bo School, has asked five teachers to step aside over alleged failure to uphold the school’s professional standards.
The Principal of Bo School, Reverend Hassan Kainesy, confirmed the development while responding to reports concerning the teachers.
Rev. Kainesy said that before the end of the last academic year, teachers were oriented on the principles of excellence and integrity upon which the school is founded.
He said teachers were urged to uphold those principles, stressing that the school would not compromise its standards.
According to the Principal, the standards include commitment to teaching, conduct in line with Government policies, and efforts to improve learning outcomes.
He explained that the five teachers allegedly failed to meet the required standards, leading the school administration to ask them to step aside.
Rev. Kainesy added that ethical and professional considerations also contributed to the decision.
He disclosed that two of the five teachers are Government-employed, or “pin-coded” teachers, whose cases had previously been reported to the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) over alleged professional misconduct and unethical behaviour.
The Principal said the school administration has its own mechanisms for assessing teachers’ professional conduct and performance.
He noted that the five teachers have since been replaced by new Government-employed teachers, although the school still has staffing gaps.
Meanwhile, Rev. Kainesy told this medium that stringent measures were announced during this year’s orientation programme, including a zero-tolerance policy towards drug and substance abuse within the school.
He urged teachers and school authorities to uphold professional standards, while calling on pupils to conduct themselves responsibly and comply with the school’s disciplinary rules.
Bo Government Secondary School is one of Sierra Leone’s longstanding secondary schools and has, in recent times, intensified efforts to strengthen discipline, professionalism and academic excellence.