Addressing participants at the event, Dr. Mohamed C. Kamanda, Secretary General, SLNatCom for UNESCO said the Commission got funds from REDISL (World Bank) through Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Education to organize debate for school clubs.
The workshop he said targets teachers leading the various UNESCO clubs in the schools and that they will be capacitated on how to prepare their pupils for the forthcoming debate.
He said at the end of the workshop, it is expected that teachers would have been well capacitated and informed to go back to their respective schools and prepare their pupils for the debate.
He expressed thanks and appreciation to REDISL and the Ministry of Education for the fund and support to the project.
UNESCO he went on is to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the people of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion by the Charter of the United Nations.
He said the National Commission ensures the permanent presence of UNESCO in Sierra Leone and contributes to the organization’s efforts to promote international cooperation.
In general, Dr. Kamanda noted, the Commission fosters close liaison state agencies and associations, universities and other centers of research and education and other institutes concerned with education, science, culture and information.
He said issues such as UNESCO’s thematic perspectives, message for teacher coordinators, the Sierra Leone National Commission, the role of teacher coordinators of school clubs, presentation on school debates and interactive session will feature discussions at the workshop.
Speaking on the thematic perspectives of UNESCO at the workshop was Adikali Sheku Kamara, Deputy Secretary General, SLNatCom for UNESCO. He listed natural sciences, culture, communications and information and education as the four thematic areas of SLNatCom for UNESCO.
He went on that the Sierra Leone National Commission for UNESCO has been in close collaboration with the ministry of education and that they have both done several projects together including survey of Arabic teachers and the general teaching staff.
The UNESCO Clubs he said make it possible to publicize the values represented by the organization in local communities.
In conclusion Mr. Kamara said the aims and roles of UNESCO Clubs include; promoting universal peace among nations worldwide.
He closed that UNECO’s national clubs supervised by the Commission, help to promote education, science, culture and communication for the rule of law in societies.