Kenema Education Stakeholders Raise Concerns Ahead of New Academic Year

The Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) FM 93.5 Kenema has engaged the Chairman of the Sierra Leone Teachers Union (SLTU), Kenema District, Moris Moijueh Koroma, and the Chairman of the National Council of Head Teachers (NaCOTH), Kenema District, Franklin Saffa, on its “Issues of the Day” programme to discuss key challenges affecting the education sector ahead of the new academic year.

Speaking on the programme, SLTU Kenema District Chairman Moris Moijueh Koroma said the union had engaged education stakeholders across the country through consultative meetings held in various regions.

He explained that the consultations provided an opportunity for stakeholders to identify and discuss challenges affecting teachers and the education sector in general.

According to Koroma, some of the major issues raised during the engagements included teachers’ conditions of service, salary harmonisation and the payment of leave allowances, which he said teachers are entitled to, like other government workers.

He also highlighted concerns over the payment of school subsidies, stressing that such funds should be provided before the reopening of schools each term or upon resumption to enable school authorities to effectively carry out their responsibilities.

Koroma further disclosed that the union discussed with stakeholders the need for the government to recruit teachers holding Arabic certificates, provided that the certificates are authentic and obtained from recognised institutions.

He said recognising qualified Arabic teachers could help address staffing shortages in schools.

Meanwhile, NaCOTH Kenema District Chairman Franklin Saffa said the recent engagement was not the first time similar concerns had been raised.

He recalled that a meeting was also held during the previous academic year, where several challenges affecting the education sector were discussed, including issues that attracted the intervention of Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh.

Saffa noted that the concerns jointly raised by teachers and school leaders are intended to encourage the government to take appropriate action, as school administrators continue to face various challenges in managing their institutions.

He called on the government, teachers, school authorities, parents and other stakeholders to work together to address the challenges confronting the education sector.

The education stakeholders maintained that timely intervention and collaboration among all parties would be crucial to ensuring a smooth and successful start to the new academic year.