By Mohamed A. Josiah From Kailahun
The Chiefdom Headquarter town of Daru, in the Jawie Chiefdom, Kailahun District, was a scene of pandemonium last week, as proprietors of the National Islamic Mission and AL-Qudus Islamic Mission stood at each other’s neck for a primary school in the township of Daru. Each claimed to be the owner; this led to a big split in the school among the teaching staff. Each teacher supported one Mission against the other.
Sarah Alpha, one of the oldest teachers in the school and ring leader in support of the National Islamic Mission, discloses that she preferred the National Islamic Mission instead of AL-Qudus Mission.
When questioned why, she unfolds that the school was established and approved under the National Islamic Mission sometime in 2007. Since then the school had been using the same Emis number.
“We favour National Islamic Mission (NIP) and not AL Qudus Lonta,” she concludes, which was followed by clapping from her supporters.
Sheilk Faruk, who claims to be the Manager Founder of the school and another ring leader, intimates this press that he preferred AL Qudus Mission instead of National Islamic, which approved the school sometime early in 2017. He added that he had no knowledge of the approval of the school in 2007 and had never set eyes on the approval document, which his opponents are having except that day in front of journalists and other visitors.
“If the school had been approved since 2007, where is the school’s fee subsidy that had been coming into the account since then?” Paramount Chief Gumgbugra Kallon, who was contacted on the issue, described the problem as complicating. However, several efforts have been made to bring together the two Missions, but only AL-Qudus Mission showed up. PC Gumgbugra Kallon has therefore endorsed the AL-Qudus Mission to take the school.
An eyewitness, on the occasion, said she is joining the media to call on the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education, ACC and other authorities into the matter for a lead way.
“If the timely intervention of the authorities concerned is not felt soon, the future of our children will be at stake,” a parent commented. Meanwhile, up to the time of going to press, the problem remains unsolved.