By Ralph Sesay in Kenema
‘Poro,’ one of Sierra Leone’s secret societies, is undermining the Free, quality Education project in Kenema district.
‘Poro’ which has been in existence for centuries, is handed down from one generations to another. It is held in high esteem in several communities prior to the advent of western education in Sierra Leone and thus a rite of passage from boyhood to adulthood.
During initiations, boys are taught the art of warfare and use of herbs to cure certain illnesses. In pre-colonial times, ‘Poro’ handled installation ceremonies of Kings today called paramount chiefs and acted as check to the kings’ powers.
The preponderance nature of those societies continue to date. The spread of western education, Christianity and Islam has not seen its abolition. In certain communities in Sierra Leone, one hardly occupies chieftaincy status without going through ‘Poro’ initiation.
Most times, government officials, students and pupils are not spared during ‘Poro’ initiation periods.
In the face of a deep-rooted ‘Poro’ initiation, the government, in 2018, pronounced the ‘Free, Quality Education’ policy to improve the low standard of education in the country.
Currently, the rampant initiation of pupils into ‘Poro’ in Kapia village, Small Bo, and Golahun Tunkia Chiefdoms in Kenema has left many schools closed.
Teachers and most pupils have escaped for their lives amidst rampant ‘Poro’ initiations.
The Sierra Leone Teachers Union (SLTU) is an interest based organisation whose membership is drawn from only teachers for whom it caters through lobbying and industrial actions.
The SLTU head in Kenema, Ahmed Sheriff and some civil society organisations confirmed that they had received reports from teachers of the Islamic Welfare Union School in Kapia, Small Bo Chiefdom saying they were attacked by Poro society members in the community.
“We were almost initiated into the ‘Poro’ society. We have no option but to close down schools and escape for our lives,” they complained.
The situation is also the same for Golahun in Tunkia Chiefdom where teachers have fled owing to ‘Poro’ activities.
“While government is spending huge resources in the Free, Quality Education, many pupils are currently trapped in society bushes across Kenema District leaving the classrooms empty,” the teachers complained.
“The situation has led to mass failures in public exams,” they emphasised.
The current situation in Kenema, reports say, has created a security threat to peaceful citizens warranting the intervention of the Police, the paramount chief and the Office of National Security.
But, what has come out very clearly is, the frequent ‘Poro’ initiations have negatively impacted on the President’s flagship project, the Free, Quality Education.
Kapia Village in Small Bo chiefdom has seen dozens of pupils in ‘Poro’ bushes over the weekend discouraging school activities in the Chiefdom.
Education authorities including the deputy director of Teaching Service Commission were not available for comments.
In Kenema… ‘Poro’ Undermines Free, Quality Education
