Patrick Hinga George, Public Education Officer
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Eastern Regional Office has engaged with the Ministry of Education’s School Quality Assurance Officers (SQAOs) at the Ministry’s Conference Room in Kenema.
Explaining the purpose of the engagement, ACC’s Senior Public Education Officer (SPEO), Edward Nathaniel Blake, stated that the visit aimed to bring urgent issues affecting the education sector in Kenema to the Ministry’s attention, particularly the SQAOs. The goal for the engagement was to discuss strategies that would surmount the challenges to improve the quality of education, while emphasizing the ACC’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption within the sector.
Mr. Blake highlighted several major concerns currently impacting schools, including the frequent cross-country rallies, events involving pupils during weekdays and school hours, widespread absenteeism, extreme tardiness among teachers and pupils, and, most notably, a lack of discipline in schools. The SPEO further described the issues as detrimental to the learning outcomes of students and as undermining the overall educational environment. He therefore urged the SQAOs to adopt a more proactive approach and to be effective in monitoring activities within schools.
The ACC’s Regional Manager, Peter Baio Kamara, reminded the gathering of the Commission’s strict stance against corruption, particularly within the education sector. He outlined key corruption offences under the Anti-Corruption Act 2008, as amended in 2019, which are commonly committed by public officers. The said offences include: Corrupt Acquisition of Wealth, Possession of Unexplained Wealth, Abuse of Office, Abuse of Position, Offering, Soliciting, and Accepting an Advantage, and Misappropriation of Public Funds, among others. He emphasized the need for accountability and integrity at every level of the education system.
Patrick Hinga George, ACC’s Public Education Officer, who chaired the engagement, built upon the previous speakers’ points and delivered a touching message about the long-term consequences of neglecting the education sector. He stressed: “There is no better way to destroy a nation rather than destroying the education! We do not need intercontinental ballistic bombs to destroy our beloved country. Once we succeed in lowering the expectations in terms of quality in education that will be the end for Sierra Leone.” His words resonated deeply with the participants, reminding them of the critical role that education plays in shaping the future of a nation.
The Deputy Director of the Ministry of Education in Kenema, Agnes N. Kamara, expressed gratitude to the ACC for initiating the engagement and for bringing these crucial issues to the forefront. She acknowledged the gravity of the challenges facing the education sector and highlighted several concerning trends, including a perceived loss of passion among teachers, which directly affects the quality of education delivered to pupils.
She further noted that various authorities within the education structure—such as the government, boards of governors, principals, headteachers, school proprietors, school management committees (SMCs), parents, and even the pupils themselves—have failed to meet their respective responsibilities.
In terms of a way forward, the meeting was concluded with a unanimous decision to form a Special Education Committee within the district. The committee will consist of district stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Education, principals, headteachers, the ACC, the security sector, councils, and paramount chiefs. The committee’s primary objective will be to create a platform for continuous dialogue, aimed at addressing the root causes of the challenges facing education and developing actionable solutions to restore discipline and quality in schools.
The engagement was seen as a significant step towards strengthening the collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the ACC. Both parties recognized the importance of working together to create a more accountable and effective education system for the future of Sierra Leone.
