By: Mohamed J. Bangura
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has handed over a newly constructed six-classroom building to the National Pentecostal Secondary School at Fort Street, Freetown, in a significant boost to the institution’s educational infrastructure and learning environment.
The handover ceremony, held on Monday, November 2, 2026, brought together church representatives, government officials, education stakeholders, school authorities, teachers, parents and pupils to witness the official transfer of the two-storey facility.
Speaking on behalf of the Church, Elder Isaac Morrison disclosed that the new facility comprises six classrooms, a head teacher’s office, a staff meeting room, an accessible walkway for persons with disabilities and furniture for both teachers and pupils. He said the intervention was expected to benefit more than 1,800 people.
He explained that the Church’s humanitarian work is driven by its love for God and humanity, emphasizing that every child deserves dignity, love and equal opportunities to succeed, regardless of religion, nationality or background.
Providing the background to the project, Sister Larsen said the Church was introduced to the school during a visit to Sierra Leone in June 2025. Following an assessment of the institution’s infrastructure, the Church identified the urgent need to replace its deteriorating classroom building.
She disclosed that the school, which had approximately 1,800 pupils last year, now accommodates more than 3,000, placing considerable pressure on its existing facilities.
According to her, the former structure was in a dangerous state, with crumbling walls, an eroding foundation and a damaged roof supported by wooden poles and plastic sheets. She further explained that overcrowding had forced approximately 90 pupils to share a classroom, compared to an average of 65 in the newly constructed facility.
She commended M. Karamu Construction, the architects, consultants and the school community for their contributions to the project, particularly the hundreds of hours of voluntary labour dedicated to demolition and debris clearance. She also urged pupils to take responsibility for maintaining the new building.
Representing the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Alie Kargbo challenged the school management, teachers and pupils to translate the improved learning environment into better academic performance, particularly in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
He noted that the new facility had enabled the school to separate its junior and senior secondary sections, allowing them to operate on a one-shift system with separate administrations. He assured the institution that school quality assurance officers would monitor the facility to assess its utilization and impact on teaching and learning.
Charles Sheriff, District Coordinator of the Teaching Service Commission, described the Church’s intervention as an outstanding humanitarian contribution to educational development. He called on the school board, administrators and pupils to take ownership of the building and ensure its proper maintenance.
In her vote of thanks, Head Girl Zainab Conteh described the handover as a historic milestone for the institution, noting that the classrooms represented an investment in education, the aspirations of pupils and the future of Sierra Leone.
She expressed appreciation to the Church for its generosity and encouraged her fellow pupils to take their studies seriously, respect their teachers and protect the newly provided facility.
The ceremony ended with renewed calls for sustained collaboration among the Church, government, school authorities, teachers, parents and pupils to ensure the proper maintenance of the facility and maximize its long-term benefits to the education sector.