By Prince J Musa in Kenema
Officials of the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) in collaboration with the National Commission for Basic Education (NCBE) and Teaching Service Commission (TSC) have engaged Principals of Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) in Kailahun and Kenema districts regarding pupils that passed the National Primary School Examination (NPSE) to be enrolled into JSS.
The regional placement meeting was held in Kenema on the 9th of August, 2023.
The regional officer of MBSSE, Alusine Michael Kpuluhun told the gathering that it was incumbent on the ministry to assemble principals of JSS to discuss the placement and the availability of accommodation in their schools for the admission of pupils that successfully went through the NPSE.
He said the government through the Ministry of basic education wants to ensure that with free quality education, no child is disadvantaged in going to school, since over the last three years, placement has been decentralized in the provinces but was only observed in Freetown. He stated that pupils that got the government passing mark in their NPSE results should be accommodated in schools.
Kpuluhun noted that they want to ensure that students within the passing range be admitted to schools so that no one will be left out especially with the introduction of the new curriculum to prevent future problems.
In his statement, the Deputy Director, the Kenema branch of the Teaching Service Commission, Tamba Sivico Bockarie thanked principals from Kailahun and Kenema districts for gracing the NPSE placement engagement for the 2023 to 2024 academic calendar for the future of the children.
He urged teachers to maintain integrity in the course of duty but mentioned how some teachers are doing things contrary to the profession.
Bockarie told the principals that very soon teachers will be given licenses and that any misconduct by them will result in their withdrawal.
The District Coordinator of the Free Quality Education Programme in Kenema, Abdul Karim Vangahun commended the teachers for their support to the past public examinations conducted. He however stated some school authorities and teachers are in the habit of getting pupils from JSS II and SSSII to take the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), respectively which he said is totally wrong for the academic future of the child.
The Regional Chairman of the Conference of Principals, Eastern Region, and Alhaji Mustapha J Mansaray appealed to principals to go by the set standards for placement. He spoke about the illegal admissions which he said most times lead to embarrassment.
The new programme officer of “Leh wi Lan” in Kenema, Sahr Dowi Kailondo Banya said they are of the view that the new Senior Secondary School curriculum will enhance access to University education.
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