BY PROBLYN J. ALPHA
The Newly Transferred Deputy Director of Education in the Ministry of basic and senior secondary school (MBSSE) in Kono District Prince Ngabeh has implored principles and head masters of primary schools not to allow street vendors to sell valentine materials to pupils in school premises to avoid distraction among pupils as the motive of celebrating valentine has highly been misunderstood.
He made the statement during his first meeting with the heads of schools in Kono district on the 10th February, 2022.
It could be recalled that the Ministry of Basic and senior secondary education (MBSSE) in Sierra Leone has on the eight February, 2022 issued out a press release putting band on street vendors not to enter the perimeter fence of schools across the country to sell valentine regalia as we are approaching the celebration of the feast of valentine.
“While this activity has the potential of breaching the peace and tranquility within the schools, we believe that, it also sends out the wrong signal especially as most of our pupils largely misconstrue the whole essence of the feast”, the release explained.
We are very mindful of the potential threat to our child protection obligations in school environment” the press release stated. Meanwhile, the release further requested that, the local councils which regulate streets trading within their municipalities and cities to caution the traders to desist from trading around schools particularly in valentine merchandise.