By Prince J. Musa
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is providing educational support to both university and technical education in Sierra Leone.
The ECOWAS support comes in the form of scholarships from which many university students have benefitted especially girls in various universities and other institutions that provide higher technical education.
Apart from scholarship schemes, the West African body is also providing agricultural and business skills targeting 200 women in Bo district south of Sierra Leone with assurances of extending the same privileges to Kailahun district and other parts of the country. It is also hoped that youths would be trained locally for the enhancement of the middle man power in Sierra Leone.
During an occasion marking ECOWAS day celebration held at the Pendenbu Vocational Secondary School in Kenema (PVSS) district on 21st June this year, the senior Services Officer of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Henry Mahoi told the audience that the West African body has provided several scholarship schemes that have greatly empowered girls across several universities.
“47 university students have benefitted from ECOWAS scholarships and only five of the beneficiaries are men and the rest are women,” Mahoi stated.
The ECOWAS day celebration was jointly organized in the eastern town of Kenema by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs and Immigration department. The Social Welfare official assured that plans are underway to extend these ECOWAS scholarship schemes to colleges and universities with a particular focus on girls.
“The ECOWAS scholarship schemes will target girls who offer science courses in universities and incentives will be provided for them,” Mahoi assured. He therefore urged female university students especially beneficiaries of the ECOWAS scholarship to make good use of the privileges accorded them and make education as priority.
Speaking during the occasion, Principal of PVSS, Amara Bambawo said it was important for pupils to know the activities of ECOWAS in the country. Apart from the development projects provided by ECOWAS, he noted, the organization also helps to consolidate peace in the country.
“ECOWAS played a great role in ending the ten years’ civil war in Sierra Leone and sponsored tangible development projects in the country especially support to education, health facilities, electricity projects and help ministries, departments and agencies of government undertake major development programs in the country,” he said.
Bambawo also drew the attention of the audience to the assistance provided by ECOWAS to victims of Ebola, flooding and mudslide disasters between 2010 and 2017. He called on the sub-regional organization to extend the scholarship scheme to other parts of the country especially for girls.
“I believe that with these scholarship schemes, girls’ education will be strengthened in the country,” the principal said.
Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Basic and Senior School education, Aiah Philip Lebbie said his institution was getting support from ECOWAS for the training of teachers for excellent services. Lebbie also spoke about his ministry’s preparation to observe the first ‘best teacher’ award in Sierra Leone.
“The Ministry of Basic and Senior School Education is planning to undertake the first ‘best teacher’ award in the country to encourage teachers to deliver quality education to the pupils,” he said.
He said the ministry is committed to the teaching of French in schools so that the country would catch up with the international job market.
© 2019 Politico Online
