By Prince J Musa in Kenema
9-year-old Aminata Gallia who tragically fell to her death from a two-story school building in Kenema East of Sierra Leone has been described as the brightest pupil in her class by Acting Head Teacher, Joseph Philip Baun.
Speaking to Politico, he said based on what he was told by the late girl’s class teacher at Emmanuel Modern Primary School, Mr. Fofana, she kept dancing towards a window without frames and was several times in the absence of the teacher stopped by her classmates from going towards that part of the building.
The teacher had gone to another class to restore quietness only for him to hear a loud thud and screams from the children.
Baun confirmed that the particular classroom’s window has no protection and they were planning to have it fixed. He accepted that they should not have allowed the children to use the place as a classroom at this particular moment.
“We are in deep sadness for the loss of such a brilliant pupil,’’ he said.
He rejected rumours that a similar incident had occurred at the school before. Baun said he had taken over a few months ago after his brother Emmmanuel named after the school as Proprietor, passed away.
He argued that the school environment is conducive to learning due to the fact that they have had an acceptance letter from the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) since September 2018 to date, which allowed them to operate as a school.
MBSSE Regional Officer East, Alusine Michael Kpuluhun in his reaction said they are saddened over the circumstances leading to the death of the girl. He explained that the education policy clearly states that before establishing a school, the Proprietor should write to the local council and Deputy Director of Education for permission before the Inspector of Schools together with the Quality Assurance Officer inspect the environment.
He stated that the visibility assessment by the Quality Assurance Officer will look at the conduciveness of the environment for learning and its security friendliness while the Deputy Director of Education will evaluate all documents before sending them to headquarters for approval.
He said upon his visit to the school it was clear that the place is not fit for educational purposes, especially for primary school education as the compound is full of dwellers, and the environment is very noisy, all of which he said constitute a poor learning environment for the pupils.
Kpuluhun noted that the school should have been located on the ground floor of the building or they should have found another location.
Uncle of the deceased, Habib Sheriff told Politico that they received a distress call from the school that Aminata had fallen from the two-storey school building.
He said upon rushing to the hospital they got different versions of what actually happened with some saying the girl was allegedly pushed by her colleagues while others disputed that.
He stated that the late girl had been in that school from classes 1 to 4 and that it was just not possible for her to fall down if no one had pushed her, but agreed that the classroom is not protected for the children.
"As a family, we are not happy how our daughter died,” he said.
In a telephone interview with Politico, the Medical Superintendent at the Kenema Government hospital, Dr. Abdulai Jalloh denied social media reports that no doctor was at the hospital at the time she was taken to the facility. He promised to give further details.
But the medic later explained in a radio interview that the girl was brought to the hospital at 2 p.m. and was given the attention required. He narrated how the hospital staff did all they could but the girl succumbed to her injuries at around 2 am the following day. He said the girl had extensive and very serious head injuries. He expressed condolences on behalf of his colleague health workers, to the bereaved family.
The tragic incident occurred on the 15th of September 2023. The school is located at Sumaila Street opposite Kenema City Field.
Copyright (2023) Politico (20/09/23)
