By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
The Deputy Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), Emily Kadiatu Gogra has emphasized that teachers’ regular attendance is essential in completing the school curriculum.
She made the observation during an on-the-spot visit to the Saint Francis Secondary School, Makeni on the 17th November, 2023 where he watched the admission of students who had passed the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for entry into Senior Secondary School (SSS).
Gogra went to the Principal’s office and inspected the teachers’ attendance register. She informed the Principal on the importance of always monitoring the school register as she said other teachers might be teaching in more than two different schools. She also advised the Principal to provide another register in the various classes for the teachers to sign.
In her presence a teacher came late and wanted to sign on the attendance register, but was refused and reprimanded.
Earlier the Deputy Minister had met dozens of boys waiting for their school supplies that comprised a pair of uniform, t-shirt, badge, cap and neck-tie. She asked the boys if they paid anything to anybody other than the official price, to which they said they only paid NLE 550 (five hundred and fifty New Leones) for the school supplies.
The boys told Gogra that they have been sitting outside since 8 in the morning with no one coming out to address them, upon which she assured them that the school materials will reach them before she left the institution’s premises.
She advised the boys to comport themselves after they would have been admitted into the school and admonished them against dodging classes.
Gogra told them to work hard, reminding them of their parents’ struggles in taking care of them, and also reminding them of the government of Sierra Leone’s paying of their school fees.
The deputy minister observed the process of distribution of the school materials to the pupils.
Copyright (c) 2023 Politico (20/11/23)
