During the implementation of the maiden edition of the Ibrahim Brima Swarray’s Academic Quiz and Debate Championship in Port Loko, a pupil of the Johanna Kuyvenhonen Secondary School, Alfred Turay has admitted that the Free Quality Education was a redemption to the less privileged children in Sierra Leone.
Alfred said, they wouldn’t have been in schools if the President of Sierra Leone, H.E Julius Maada Bio had not given them the opportunity of Free Quality Education. He made this statement debating against the motion that says “The Government of Sierra Leone should replace the Grant-In-Aid with the Students’ Loan Scheme.”
“I wouldn’t support the Government to replace the Grant-In-Aid with the Students’ Loan Scheme. The reason for instance is, we wouldn’t have been in schools without the Free Quality Education as less privileged children. Replacing the Grant-In-Aid with the Students’ Loan Scheme will be a burden on our parents.” Alfred Turay emphasised.
Addressing the gathering as the Keynote Speaker, the Chief Executive of the National Public Procurement Authority, Chief Ibrahim Brima Swarray (who doubles as the President of the Ibrahim Brima Swarray’s Foundation) said, it was a deliberate act of the Messiah of the less privileged HE Brigadier (Retired) Julius Maada Bio to bring Free Quality Education for the children of this country. He said the President believes that, it is only through education that every child of this country will actualize their fullest potentials irrespective of their socio-economic, political or cultural background.
“There is no way this country can grow if Sierra Leoneans are not educated. And there is no way we can move from where we’re today if we cannot embrace education. Irrespective of the diamond, gold or even the Marampa Mines we have in the North, there’s no way that those natural resources are going to benefit us if we’re not educated. So, education is a consensus and deliberate effort for us all ; and so that dream and inspiration came from one single person that loves this country, that believes in the potential of you the children, more especially the girl child, and that person is His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio. So that is why our year-in year-out resources of about Twenty One Percent is being dedicated to education.” Chief Ibrahim Brima Swarray noted.
The NPPA Boss furthered that, it is the dream of the country to reclaim her title, the “Anthem of Africa” in next ten years. He also said the Free Quality Education was the beginning of how we want to go as a nation.
“If we all want to see every Sierra Leonean girl educated, more jobs in our country, better life in Portloko, Makeni, Kenema and everywhere in Sierra Leone, the only way we can see these equitable developments happening in Sierra Leone is through education. So, we all need to be educated. Therefore, education in this country under President Bio’s administration is not just a right but it’s a most for every child.” Chief Swarray emphasised.
He concluded that he was so delighted in the people of Portloko, more especially the pupils for their manifestation of interest in education and national unity.
Mariama Bassiatu Kamara of Free Pentecostal Mission Academy clinched winner’s medal, and Samuel Kargbo of Wesleyan Junior Secondary School bagged home the Runners up laurel in the Quiz competition meant purposely for the Junior Secondary School pupils.
In the Debate Championship, which was for the Senior Secondary School Sector, Queen Kaday Mambu of EduAid Senior Secondary School won the Best Debater position, and Ibrahim T. Kamara of Portloko Catholic Secondary School settled for the Second position.
The Best two Quiz teams were Free Pentecostal Mission Academy with 54 points, and Movement of Faith Islamic Secondary School with 51 points.
Portloko Catholic Secondary School won the Best Debate Team and EduAid Secondary School came second.
Participants, Coordinating teachers and spectators described the programme to be interesting, thanked Chief Ibrahim Brima Swarray for such opportunity and said they were anticipating another episode in their district.
The Country Director of the Ibrahim Brima Swarray’s Foundation, Massaquoi Mannah Massaquoi said, they are doing this because their Boss, who is one of the trusted soldiers of the New Direction Government of President Bio has committed to organising the competition across the country as his own contribution to enhance quality education in the country, and that they as a government do not compromise the “Tok N Do” syndrome. He furthered that the Foundation’s next activity, next month will also be in one District in the North.
Media and Communications Unit
Ibrahim Brima Swarray’s Foundation
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