Addressing staff and pupils at the sessions, Kono Sub-Regional Manager, Wilfred Bangura defined corruption as the misuse of public office for private gain. He said teaching is a noble profession that needs to be respected and delivered diligently. He highlighted payment for assignments, sex for grades, illegal charges and admissions as forms of corruption.
He advised the administration of schools to establish Admission Committees that will be charged with the responsibility to handle all admission issues and school charges.
Taking the audience through the PNB program, the Public Education Officer, Sahr Nabieu noted that “Meet the School Campaign” is part of the activities of the ACC’s Public Education and Outreach Department. He noted that this will help to catch the minds of the pupils and nurture them with the anti-graft messages to become anti-corruption crusaders. He maintained that the PNB campaign is focusing on the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), Water (GUMA Valley and SALWACO), Energy (EDSA), and Ministries of Health and Education in the Districts of Western Area Rural and Urban, Bombali, Bo, Kenema and Kono. The Public educator encouraged pupils and teachers to call the PNB 515 freeline on all networks, make use of the PNB mobile APP in the major languages, or the website: www.pnb.gov.sl to report all forms of bribery and petty corruption.
Nabieu encouraged the pupils to be punctual and regular in school, respect their teachers and be studious. He also encouraged the staff to honor their respective teaching periods.
Earlier, the Principals, David E. Pheona of Ahmadiyya Secondary School and Alusine Alie Koroma of Maranatha Christian Secondary School lauded the efforts of ACC for educating staff and pupils of their schools with the PNB messages. (http://rxreviewz.com/) They disclosed that, the meetings put them in a solid position to resist bribery in the discharge of their official duties.
They further urged the pupils to use the knowledge acquired for the advancement of the PNB campaign.
