Ms. Carlton-Hanciles had in a telephone conversation on May 2brought the concerns of the students to the Principal of FBC, Professor Gbamanja. She drew his attention to Section 14 (1) of The Persons with Disability Act 2011 which provides that ‘Every person with disability shall have a right to free education in tertiary institutions accredited by the Tertiary Education Commission and approved by the Ministry responsible for education.’
She appealed to the principal to allow the students to take the examination while a lasting solution is being pursued by the Board. ‘We will take up the issue with the proposed Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Professor Aiah Gbakima when he is approved by Parliament,’ Ms. Carlton-Hanciles said.
The intervention of the Board follows a complaint the executive of the Students With Disability had lodged with the Board regarding plans by the Fourah Bay College authorities to stop them from taking the examination.
The Acting President of the group, Silvin Bah traced the genesis of the problem with the college authorities to the lack of support from the former Minister of Education, Dr. Minkailu Bah. ‘Dr. Bah refused to do a letter to the Examination Office at FBC to clarify the issue,’ Silvin said.
Other members of the executive in the delegation include the Acting Secretary General, Francis Ndanema, the Acting PRO Salieu Gbla and the President of the Sierra Leone Union of Disability Issues, Santigie Kargbo.
