By Prince J Musa in Kenema.
The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) and the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) have both been handed keys to new buildings in Kenema.
The ministry’s office in the district was rehabilitated whiles a new building was constructed for the Teaching Service Commission.
The handing over ceremony was done in Kenema city on Friday, 6 March.
In his keynote address, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, David Banya, said: “As a ministry we are overwhelmed by the kind of support we are getting from EU. The rehabilitation of the education office and the construction of TSC office support the free quality education.”
During the handing over ceremony, the national coordinator of the Free Quality Education, Amara Sowa, said the building was a way of supporting the staff of the commission to be effective.
“Since government considers education as a flagship program, it is important to ensure that everything that is needed to be supportive of the free quality education is up to standard,” Sowa said.
“For the staff of the ministry of education and teaching service commission to do quality and excellent work in this district, they need conducive workplace that will facilitate and motivate them do the work,” he added.
The rehabilitation project was funded by the European Union through the National Authorizing Office.
The Education Program Manager at the EU, Guiseppe Pagione, said the work was part of their commitment to support education in Sierra Leone.
“Sierra Leone had been a strong partner to EU and it is against this backdrop that the European Union had been supportive to Sierra Leone over the last decade,” he said.
A similar project has been ongoing in Makeni and Bo.
On behalf of the TSC, the Executive Secretary, Sorie Ibrahim Turay, expressed appreciation to the commission for providing funds for the rehabilitation. He also pleaded with the EU to help with technical capacity.
“EU has to help the commission with technical aid to improve the teaching standard and record keeping of teachers,” he said.
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