The leading sport-betting company, Mercury International yesterday handed over the Dr Kadie Sesay Girls’ Secondary School.
The school is named after an eminent educationist Dr Kadie A. Sesay, a former lecturer of the University of Sierra Leone and Minister of government.
The handing over of the lab school represents a new dawn of education in PortLoko and Mercury’s commitment to the Free Quality Education (FQE) project. FQE is the flagship project of the New Direction Government that has attracted 21 per cent of the country’s national budget.
The newly constructed six-class room attracted over Le5 Billion. It Contains a state of the art physics, chemistry and Biology laboratories. Plans to expand the school with more facilities through acuisition of more acreages of land exists. Managing Director of the sport-betting company,
Martin Michael started his address during the ceremony by recognising the real heroes and champions of the project. The expectation of upgrading the school to senior secondary level also reigns high on the agenda of government. At a colourful handing over ceremony at the school compound, several dignitaries from diverse spheres of life appreciated the project by showering commendation on the sport-betting and government. Vice President, Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh who chaired the ceremony described the ceremony as a history-making event for PortLoko community and the nation.
“It is a big day for Girls’ education in Sierra Leone,” VP Juldeh Jalloh said.
He also told the audience that the construction of the monumental edifice was the fulfilment of a promise made by President Julius Maada Bio.
Since the new school is definitely a preferred choice and destination for pupils in PortLoko community, the Vice President reminded the people that opportunities come with challenges as every parent wants a their to go to the school.
“It is a school for excellence as the best should come and standards must be maintained,” VP Juldeh Jalloh warned.
The Vice President called on the people of Portloko to rise up to the challenges expressing hope that several dignitaries would be produced by the school. Speaking on behalf of the Baka Loko Chiefdom in PortLoko which hosts the school, the Chiefdom Speaker, Mr Malapie thanked President Julius Maada Bio for his commitment to the education project in Sierra Leone.
He assured the President that they are ready to pay back to the party for the work government is doing to the his community. Mr Malapie appealed for the construction of more classrooms for the school to attain a senior school status.
The Chiefdom Speaker used the platform to call for the enhancement of security situation in the community. He cited incidents of armed robbery and other serious crimes that affect the community. In his contribution, former Minister of Information and Communication, Alpha Khan sees the construction of the school as a great step in strengthening Education in the country. He described President Julius Maada Bio as a leader that is championing the cause of education in the country.
“President Maada Bio is a good leader that knows the way, shows the way and goes the way,” he said.
“Education is the most important thing government can offer to its citizens,” he said.
The former Minister also labelled the Sierra Leone People’s Party as one that places top priority on education. He cited the construction of PortLoko Teachers’ College in 1964 by Amadu Wurie, a former Minister of Education, the establishment of yeken-Pepeh primary school in PortLoko and the A. D. Wurie Secondary School in Lunsar by another former Minister of Education, Dr Alpha Tejan Wurie now Minister of Health and Sanitation.
The Minister of Basic and Senior School Education David Moinina Sengeh and other officials of the delivery team as well as consultants, Ideas Limited and contractors belong to the category of heroes of the project.
Mr Michael urged the community to take ownership of the project saying it is theirs.
“The school is your project. Your enthusiasm, passion, the way you owned the project made it a pleasure for me to be a tiny part of what has been achieved here today,” Mr Michael urged the community.
The Mercury Managing Director thrilled the pupils and stakeholders when he announced that the sum of Le10, 000, 000 (Ten million Leones) will be deposited monthly into the school account for a period of one year.
Staff of the sport-betting company also emulated the example of their manager by donating 350 facemasks and 200 school bags for the pupils. A friend and well-wisher of Mercury Managing Director also donated 5,000 text books to the new school.
1,000 copies have been made available, and the remaining 4,000 to printed and given to the school in due course. Resident Minister, North-west Region, Haja Isatta Abdulai Kamara described the school as a “unique edifice” that will linger in the minds of the people.
Madam Abdulai likened the Dr Kadie Sesay Girls’ Secondary School to the Annie Walsh Memorial Secondary School in Freetown, the Harford School for Girls in Moyamba and the Mathora Girls’ Secondary School in Magburaka.
The North-west Resident Minister appealed to Mercury International for a perimetre fence and a boarding home so that an enabling environment for learning could be created.
“The construction of the girls’ school is the start of a long journey. We hope that in three years time, the first crop of princesses of the Dr Kadie Sesay Secondary School to enter University,” she expressed hope.
“We are no longer blind supporters of any political party. The people will see it, feel it and experience the fruits of good governance. With PAOPA, nothing is impossible,” she emphasised.
First Lady, Madam Fatima Bio and the Minister of Social Welfare came from the same angle. They premised their speeches on the relationship between education and protection of a girl from sexual violence. The most important address was made by President Julius Maada Bio.
The President registered a “big thank you” to Mercury International for the magnanimity the company has shown to the people of PortLoko. President Bio, in his speech, considers education as the most potent enabler for the transformation of societies.
In striving to achieve such objective, the President said, dedication is the most desired tool.
The President also did not lose sight of sexual violence as a key social menace that hunts the country.
To over come the menace, he appealed, partisan politics must be put aside.
“Creating a one-stop centre, instituting a sexual offences model court are above politics,” he said. Creating an enabling environment for the education of the girl child, he said is above politics. Education for the girl child, President Bio said, is a right under his government.
The President has great hope in the notion that girls can contribute to the development of the nation if better educated.
“Artificial and cultural limitations should no longer be tolerated to hinder the education of a girl as an educated woman is an agent of change for herself, the community and the nation,” the President stressed.
Towards the realization of this objective, the President assured the public that his Government would pursue a robust legal and policy framework that would enhance private sector participation in education.