May 31, 2021
By: Dadson Musa
The Bo government Secondary school, a renowned secondary school located in the southern provincial town of Bo has a rich history to it. It was formed for sons and nominees of paramount chiefs across the country initially. Due to the rapid expansion of Bo city, the school has found itself in the center of town. It has a large expanse of land which has been secured by perimeter fencing. So the fencing has created a serene, secured and safe learning environment for pupils. The school is an all-male school with pupils who are all in boarding homes. Bo school was built during the colonial era when the British were still ruling us with funds from the Britain. In our school days the school was the envy of so many other schools in and around Bo. Then, with very few private schools around the country, Bo school was like a private school where English speaking was the norm.
Discipline is something the authorities never compromised that is why their motto reads as ‘Manners Maketh Man’. The demand for admission into the school has always been high.
It has to be high standards and hard-to-beat criteria which have kept so many people from getting their kids admitted into Bo school.
The school is over one hundred and fifteen (115) years in existence and has produced illustrious alumni for Sierra Leone and beyond. The current president, Julius Maada Bio, being no exception.
But, Bo school has gone through transformation which has partly been due to the eleven years war and also partly due to the neglect and reckless abandon our educational system has been through. It might interest you to know that the first principal of that school was a British, by the name of Proudfoot before Sierra Leoneans started handling things at the helm of affairs.
The longest-serving principal so far has been Festus M. Seiwoh for which he received the Order Of Rokel award on 27th April 2021. The school has had an academic record, second to none in Bo and across the country and their old pupils association, OBBA is formidable, dignified and apparently united.
OBBA(Old Bo Boys Association) has an international clout and the alumni of the school hold their alma mater so ‘dear’ that they look after themselves, cater for the needs of current pupils and make sure the school always get what it is in need of and deserves.
Edward M. Kpakra is the current principal of Bo school. He has spent a good part of his working life in England and holds a Masters degree in education.
He had also forayed into the field of journalism before leaving the shores of Sierra Leone.
Mr Kpakra is therefore never media- shy. Some people might ask the reason for him living his job in England to take up a principal job in a country that is challenged in several areas. But ‘giving back’ to one’s country of birth is a price worth paying and a sacrifice that carries with it the highest honour.
Principal Kpakra has tried to settle down on his job but needs re-acculturation and time. He also needs to re-acclimatize as Sierra Leone and England have completely different weather patterns. For him to get things right and succeed, the board should be patient with him, parents should be understanding and patient also and the community and country at large must be tolerant of him. The job he is handling at Bo school now is a ‘hot seat’ as there are too many eyes on him and a lot of expectations as no OBBA man would like to see the school that this current president attended from falling.
So to the discerning mind you can feel the weight that he carries. Leadership is divine as it is God, almighty who ordains his servant, so his combination of personnel, tools and money at hand is going to make him a good leader. Bo school, being the biggest and complex government school in the country is not an easy school job to do as principal. He is blessed to have the president’s ears and attention but he can also be under pressure to perform.
Good results in public exams are what they will want of him and nothing less.
There are dwelling quarters for 80% of the teaching staff at no cost on them which is a huge incentive especially in a city where the cost of renting a flat is very expensive. This might also be enough incentive for them to be efficient and effective on their job.
The school at present can boast of a sick bay with state-of-the-art medical equipment, a solar-powered tap system and a standby generator which gives the whole institution electricity every night although for a specified limited period.
A Community Health Officer and two nurses have been attached to the sick bay by the District Medical Officer, Dr. Marsh.
The boys are having regular meals and there is strong monitoring of teachers; their time in class, topics covered within the syllabus and how that translates into pupil’s performance especially in public exams.
Attending Bo school has been the pride of many boys in Sierra Leone because of their good academic record over the years.
The school has been held in awe by many people in and out of Sierra Leone and with the attention that the school has now more than ever before in its history the support is outpouring from different quarters. This will undoubtedly produce act as a form of subtle pressure to deliver the goods for his alma mater.
