By Prince J. Musa in Kenema
The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education (MBSSE) has shut down the Emmanuel Modern Primary School in Kenema after one of the pupils fell to her death from the top floor of the school building.
Speaking at a meeting held on 27th September 2023 with stakeholders in the education sector including the Human Rights Commission, the Director of School Quality Assurance and Human Resource Management at (MBSSE), Francess Kamara said the decision was taken following an investigation into the death of a nine-year-old pupil who died after falling off the school’s two-storey building.
“Emmanuel Modern Primary School is an illegal school’’ the Director said. She explained that the school flouted the education policy by not getting the school registered. She added that as per policy, every school should be accorded permission by the council before operating, stating that Emmanuel school was never given permission to operate.
She stated that the school had no attendance register for pupils and teachers, which meant that the teachers never registered, and there were no qualified teachers. The Director stated that such an action contravenes the education policy.
Kamara stated that the school environment is not conducive for children. Highlighting some of the reasons why a school should not operate in such an environment, Kamara said the school lacked security and space for the kids to play, with the environment surrounded by dwelling houses amongst other things. She stressed that such an environment is not child-friendly; adding that the school authorities went contrary to the ministry’s guideline on conditions proprietors must meet before the ministry approves a place for learning.
Kamara recommended that the ministry takes details of the pupils who were attending the affected school in order to get them incorporated into other schools that are closer to their homes. She revealed that they have started engaging some nearby schools, and have formed a committee that will ensure the kids do not miss out on school.
The Director urged parents to visit a school and monitor its environment to know whether their children’s lives will be in a safe environment before they are enrolled.
She admitted that the ministry has a lot to do, explaining that it is their responsibility to locate and visit every school do monitoring. Kamara stated that they will ensure they try to prevent a reoccurrence of such.
The Regional Human Rights Officer East at the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone Vandi Saidu expressed disappointment at the school authorities and the MBSSE in Kenema for being negligent and allowing a school to operate in such an environment.
Saidu stated that the ministry has a lot of work to do, stating that there are many schools across the countrythat operate in such risky environments.
Aminata Gallia aged 9 and a Class Four pupil accidentally plunged to her death this September after she fell off a rail less window on the top of her school building, sparking nationwide outrage.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (29/09/23)
