By Henry Kargbo
Joseph Kamara, the Head Teacher, Kingtom Primary School and Madam Isatu Aminata Peacock, the Principal of Harford Secondary School for Girls in Moyamba have won the Second Edition of Presidential National Best Teacher Awards. The awardees on Tuesday 18th October 2022 received their prestigious honours of recognitions at ceremony jointly hosted by the Office of the President by the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education, at the Bintumani International Conference Center, Aberdeen in West of Freetown,
Deliver his statement, President Julius Maada Bio, said that on his State Opening of Parliament remarks in 2018, that as a way to recognizing the most innovative, ingenious and dedicated teachers at district, regional and national levels.
He congratulated pupils who have successfully passed this year’s National Primary School Examination, the Basic Education Certificate Examination, and the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations.
President Bio, said his government has record number of learners with options of transition into secondary school, tertiary institutions through quality education. He thanked teachers across the country who have work for the country to see the importance of development in the country.
He added that educational transformation unfolding in the country would not have been possible without the diligent efforts of trained, and qualified teachers.
“I am happy. My government is honoured to celebrate the Second Edition of the Presidential National Best Teacher Awards”, he said and recalled that the Teaching Service Commission was established in 2011 but it wasn’t fully operational until 2016 when the Commission was inaugurated.
“My cabinet has endorsed more than half a dozen policies related to teacher recruitment, teacher retention, teacher transfer, grievance redress, and professional development.
The World Bank Country Representative, Madam Lydia Mesfin said teachers are important support systems to pupils, as they served beyond being a source of model and guidance to being the most important capital in the life of the student.
Madam Lydia recalled that the COVID-19 pandemic obstructed many things around the world. She said teachers have been working tirelessly to ensure that learning went on, and Sierra Leone teachers were no exception.
She praised President Bio for transforming education and making human capital development a priority. She pledged the support of the Bank, Irish Aid, European Union, and the FDO support to the Sierra Leone Best Teachers’ Awards.
Chairperson of Teaching Service Commission, Conrad Sackey said that the Award is aimed at motivating resourceful and dedicated teachers at district, regional and national levels as they demonstrate innovation, selflessness in the teaching profession.
He said the award included the recognition of value for teachers’ excellence across the country.
Sackey disclosed that they have secured funds to construct teacher training centers in the country.
Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Dr David Moinina Sengeh said as a government they would continue to promote radical inclusion on how they trained and recruited teachers. He said over the years government had spent over One Billion Dollars on the training of teachers across the country. He added that winners of the Second Editions of Presidential Best Teachers’ Award have been very supportive of the education systems in the country.
He said that winners will continue to use their prize to transform education in their communities by way of developing learning and teaching guides, expressing hope that over100% of children will transform through basic education.
