By Mustapha Sesay & Crispina Taylor
The much debated reopening of schools, which was previously slated for March 30, has been shifted to April 14, 2015.
This disclosure was made in parliament Friday where MPs were been updated on the status of Education in the country.
Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Minkilu Bah, told members of the parliamentary oversight committee on education that the decision to shift the date of re-opening resulted from delay in the planned disinfection of all schools used as holding and treatment centers for Ebola patients. He did not however say how many schools were affected.
The government back in January said it was putting a “response plan” together as part of efforts to reopen of schools after close to a year now since they were first closed. These include clearing and disinfecting of all schools, providing safe drinking water and sanitary facilities and hygiene skits for both public and private schools.
It is estimated that 2,754 schools have no water facilities and 2,724 schools lack toilets facilities across the country, yet the spread of Ebola virus has been linked to lack of good sanitary conditions in most of the communities where the disease has hit hardest. And it is still not clear whether the Education Ministry would be able to provide these facilities before schools reopen on the planned date.
Consequently, there has been general public anxiety over the issue.
Some parents have expressed fear in sending their children to school because, they say, the Ebola virus was still around and most of the public schools, which the majority of Sierra Leonean kids attend, were either over crowded or have no toilets.
Minister Bah however argued that if neighboring countries could do it, Sierra Leone could.
“Guinea and Liberia have done likewise in their fight against the Ebola disease and reports indicate that there was no problem,” he pointed out.
Bah went on to say over 168 thermometers had already arrived to be distributed all over the country with help from the National Electoral Commission, while Veronica buckets and hygiene kits distribution were presently ongoing.
He also informed the committee that his ministry was set to send all school fees to all public schools as promised by the government before schools reopen. But, the minister observed, the ministry was facing some difficulties in that most schools were yet to send in their bank account details. The ministry would not send any money to individual accounts, he warned.
The Education minister also warned school authorities against the habit of selling school materials to parents at high cost. He said schools were not business places and that teachers should focus on providing education.
With regards to pregnant school-going pupils, Dr. Bah reiterated that those with “visible pregnancies” would not be allowed to attend schools or take any exam, but that they would do so after they have delivered.
According to the new arrangement, the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) is now set for March 30, and both government and private West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASCE) would commence later in November.
The issue of pregnant girls been prevented from taken exams have angered many, prompting the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone to issue a statement last month condemning the move.
© Politico 16/03/15
