By Newman Anthony Levey in Bo
Construction work on the rehabilitation of one of Sierra Leone’s oldest and iconic institutions of learning - St Andrews Secondary School – has completed, Politico has learnt.
The school which is located in the southern Bo district received a facelift thanks to the government of Sierra Leone, after being in a state of dilapidation for many years.
The National President of the school’s Old Boys Association, John J. B. Lavalie, expressed thanks and appreciation to the President Julius Maada Bio for the gesture.
“We are thankful to the government of President Julius Maada Bio… Since the establishment of this school, over 60 years ago, rehabilitation of this nature has never happened,” he said, explaining that the school’s dilapidated condition was worsened by trees falling on the buildings, rendering them inhabitable.
“We want to say thanks to the government that came in to salvage the situation,” he added.
Mr Lavalie revealed that a total of seven buildings within the school compound were rehabilitated and furniture provided for the classrooms. He also said they would get supply of school materials to enhance effective learning, adding that government would be paying the teachers .
According to Lavalie, the rehabilitation work on the school meant that it is no longer going to be overcrowded due to improvement in sitting arrangement in the classrooms.
According to the Chief administrator of the Council, Dr. Edward Alpha, the project cost over Le3 billion. He noted that work started in October 2018 and was completed in June 2019. He went further to say that seven different contractors were contacted to do the job.
The newly appointed Acting Principal of the Senior School, Mr. Moinina Sandi, said that one of his main priorities is to ensure discipline.
"I want to bring the past glory back to the school, and I need the support of the teachers, old students of the school, and the government,” he said.
St Andrews Secondary School is situated approximately 200 meters off Tikonko Road and about 100 meters from the Bo City Hall. It was established in 1954 with the objectives of providing a co- educational school in the provinces. The school was also meant to provide a sound protestant education that could rival the proposed mission-like Christ the King College in the same district.
The founders of the school also had in mind that it could compete with other secondary schools in the region, including the popular Bo Government Secondary School.
St Andrews was founded on very sound and religious principle and this, among other traditions, is still maintained. This way the school has contributed to the development of the country with so many of their old students occupying prominent positions of trust in the country.
Notable alumni of the school include Chief Minister Prof. David John Francis; Minister of Finance Jacob Jusu Saffa; Hon. Ibrahim Ben Kargbo, former minister and currently lawmaker of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC); and the 2018 Presidential candidate for the APC, Dr. Samura Kamara.
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