By Crispina Taylor
Sierra Leone`s lawmakers last week returned to work after the end of the 2015 recess.
At their first sitting on Thursday October 8, the MPs attended to the 2013-2014 report of the National Commission for Democracy (NCD), presented to the House by Deputy Minister of Political and Public Affairs Karamo Kabba. The House also approved some presidential nominees during that session.
NCD is a government agency tasked with promoting democracy through civic education. Its report, whose contents have not been made known to the press yet, will lay in parliament for the prescribed 21-day reading before deliberation.
The MPs also approved seven out of 10 people appointed by President Ernest Bai Koroma to various boards. They include Alie Badara Sheriff, former MP, nominated to serve in the board of directors of Sierratel, Ms Sonia Osho-Williams, member of the board of directors of NATCOM, veteran journalist Christo Johnson, to serve as member in the Income Tax Board of Appellate Commissioners, and Dr Stanella Beckley, as chairperson of the newly created Teaching Service Commission.
The House did not say anything about three pending Presidential nominees.
In their deliberation prior to the approval of the seven officials, it was the nominee for the Teaching Service Commission who attracted much of the MPs attention.
SLPP MP Komba Koydeyoma, a teacher for 27 years, said education was education during the 1960s, when he was in school. He expressed regret that over the dwindling of standards these days, which he attributed partially to lack of concentration to the plight of those in the “noble profession” of teaching.
He also observed that reluctance by teachers to serve in smaller towns and villages had left these communities starved of instructors.
“Everyone wants to stay in the city and this is causing the school children to move to the city,” where all the teachers are concentrated,” he said.
The MP urged Dr Beckley to look into the issue of remuneration for teachers, describing it as “a big concern”. He spoke about qualified teachers who have taught for several years without been approved by the ministry of Education and which meant no salary for them.
Paramount Chief MP of Moyamba, Joseph Alieu, who also served as a teacher for 35 years, said he was happy that a commission like the one in question had been set up to look into the issues around teachers. He urged the commission to do its work diligently and make sure the Sierra Leone Teachers Union represents teachers well and work in their interests.
Parliamentary Majority Leader, Ibrahim Bundu, cited Bo as an example were 600 certificates were sent to the ministry for jobs and when verified only 40 turned out to be authentic. He said there were lots of people like those in different communities.
“The chairperson of the commission has a lot to do” he stressed.
(C) Politico Online 12/10/15
