ANNUAL REPORT FROM THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

OF THE

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST MISSION

IN

SIERRA LEONE

FOR THE YEAR-END 2011

INTRODUCTION:

By the Grace of God of Almighty I was employed as the Education Secretary in February 2011.

I want to register my gratitude to God, and the entire staff at the Sierra Leone Mission, Schools authorities for their assistance and guidance during this period under review.

My report will examine the objectives of the Education in areas of progress made, challenges and strategies/what can be done.

OBJECTIVE I:

The inclusion of every pupil to the educational program regardless of tribe and religion;

PROGRESS MADE:

Compliance in this area is very high as there is a steady increase in the enrollment of all schools, due to the Education Act 2004 for example.

Peninsula Sec. Sch.(SSS) 994

Peninsula Sec. Sec. (JSS) 811

SDA Primary Kissi Town (674)

SAD Primary Waterloo (772)

CHALLENGE:

The high increase enrollment has caused overcrowding in the schools with very few qualified teacher to cope and lesser facilities to share e.g.

  1. Peninsula secondary School (SSS) – 994, No. of Teachers 26
  2. Seventh-day Adventist Kissy Mess Mess – 236 No. of Teachers 12
  3. Seventh-day Adventist Kissi Town – 674 No. of Teachers 21
  4. Peninsula Sec. Sch. (JSS) 811 No. of Teachers 43
  5. SDA Primary Sch. 772 No. of Teachers 48

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

Heads of schools should insist on control of enrollment and appreciable Teacher/Pupil ratio in our schools should be maintained, for example one teacher to 50 pupils for Government assisted schools and 30 pupils per teacher for private schools

Appreciable Teacher/Pupil ratio in our schools should be maintained.

OBJECTIVE 2:

The quality of education provided by the school:

1A.PROGRESS MADE

In almost all of our school, they have been producing excellent results, both at internal and external examinations. Heads of the Secondary’s have gone beyond their prepared budget to cater for teachers in the sciences and commercial subjects. Teachers turn-over in all most all schools nationwide is very high because of competitive job opportunities.

Peninsula Secondary School – WASSCE Results 2010/2011 Science result was the best in the country.

Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) Candidates who sat to the examination had their requirements for Senior Secondary Schools.

Nation Primary School Examinations (NPSE) almost all of the schools made 100% passes.

3.STRATEGY THAT CAN BE EMPLOYED:

Teachers in the Sciences and Commercial subjects should be given additional incentives, as it is practiced in some schools. Funds for such engagements can be provided by the old Pupils Associations and other cooperate companies.

Remedial classes should be provided for those pupils who fall below the required number – cost of tuition should be borne by parents.

2B.CHALLENGE:

The Sierra Leone Education Act 2004 and the Policy on admission poses alot of threat and undue pressure on heads of schools. Politicians make good use of the provisions to enroll pupils who fall below standard.

OBJECTIVE3

The welfare, health and safety of pupils;

  1. PROGRESS MADE:

Not much progress has been made in this area as most of our schools do not have proper water system and toilet facilities.

  1. CHALLENGE

Most of the schools are not fenced. They pose safety threat to our pupils, as vehicles and pedestrians use their premises as thorough fare; e.g.

  1. Seventh-day Adventist Primary School (Upper & Lower) Waterloo
  2. Seventh-day Adventist Primary School – Kissi Town
  3. Seventh-day Adventist Primary School – Samuel Town is thorough fare for vehicles and pedestrians.
  1. STRATEGY/WHAT CAN BE DONE.

-Heads of schools can embark on self-help projects, through their CTA (Community Teachers Association) meetings by contributing anannual fee on a term for the fencing of compounds. e.g. Le3,000 per pupil per term

-Adventist Health System (AHS) should devise a system were all pupils of the Seventh-day Adventist Schools receive concessional treatment from the hospital. e.g. Le5,000 per pupil

-Schools, who have received help from International donors, should appeal on behalf of other less privileged schools, less privileged school should write proposals from those benefiting.

OBJECIVE 4

The spiritual, moral social and cultural development of pupils;

  1. PROGRESS MADE:

Morally our pupils can be commended for their exemplary disciplinary behavior at school, sports and other public functions.

  1. CHALLENGE

Not much progress has been made spiritually and culturally because of the following:

-The two-shift system of school gives very little scope for other extra-curricular engagements.

-Majority of the teachers employed are of other faiths it would be very difficult for the pupils to imbibe the Seventh-day Adventist faith.

-Some teachers and pupils hardly recognize Seventh-day Adventist spiritual activities.

  1. STRATEGY/WHAT CAN BE DONE

-Every Seventh-day Adventist school should have a chapel and a Bible Teacher.

-Less school work should be done on Fridays to make room for preparation for Sabbath.

-Promotions for higher positions should be availed to only Seventh-day Adventist members of Good Standing.e.g. position like Heads and Deputy Heads of schools

OBJECTIVE 5

The school’s premises and accommodation;

  1. PROGRESS MADE

The following schools have proper structures and accommodation facilities

  1. The Three Angels’ Messages church school
  2. The Abigail Butcher Memorial School
  3. The Seventh-day Adventist Primary School – Kissy Mess Mess
  4. The Heilser Memorial Secondary School
  5. The Seventh-day Adventist Primary School (AM) – Waterloo
  6. The Seventh-day Adventist Primary School (PM) – Waterloo
  7. The Seventh-day Adventist Nursery School (PM) – Waterloo
  1. CHALLENGE

The following schools do not have proper structures and accommodation facilities.

-The Seventh-day Adventist Primary School – Masiaka

-The Camp Seventh-day Adventist Primary School – Waterloo

-The Seventh-day Adventist Primary School - Samuel Town

-Almost all of our schools are not fenced.

  1. STRATEGY/WHAT CAN BE DONE

-Immediate action should be taken by the Sierra Leone Mission and Church Authority to retrieve the land and property of the Masiaka School and church.

- Ensure that schools authorities submit the relevant documents for the Maranatha’s School project 2012 e.g. Seventh-day Adventist Primary School Kissi Town and Seventh-day Adventist Primary School Samuel Town.

OBJECTIVE 6

-Circulation of information either from or to office, school parents and other stakeholders

1. PROGRESS MADE

Communication within and out of the office is onlydone through telephones and letters.

2. CHALLENGE

In this modern age, the office is without the following to communicate

-No desk-top, no internet facility

-No functional budget to visit schools

3. STRATEGY/WHAT CAN BE DONE

The table of the education should have all it takes to get in touch with the stake holders and other relevant bodies.

Knowledge of SDA Faith can be known through the observance of Education Day in all schools and Churches, offerings can be lighted towards the development of the Education Department.

LINKAGES

Through Action for Community Transformation and Sponsorship (ACTS), the Seventh-day Adventist Primary School, Waterloo was linked the UNICEF School Protection Project. The mother Club and We Pin Croup was supported with Le500, 000 to ensure girls retention and monitor progress on the school’s administration.

FUTURE ENGEGEMENTS

-To make a friendly version of the Seventh-day Adventist Education Philosophy to be distributed to all Seventh-day Adventist Schools.

-To encourage Seventh-day Adventist Teachers, teaching in other schools to opt to teach in the Seventh-day Adventist schools.

-To continuously engage Government and NGO’s that promote Girls Education to include and recognize Seventh-day Adventist in there programms.

-To establish Data Bank and Website of all side schools and facilities. (see attached Template)

-To ensure that actions are taken by the Sierra Leone Mission retrieves the Masiaka School and Church.

CONCLUSION

-Desperate effort needs to be made by the Sierra Leone Mission to re-define its relationship with the Authorities of schools. Some of the schools authorities do not perceive the Sierra Leone Mission or Seventh-day Adventist as the Proprietor of the schools. My presence in some Seventh-day Adventist schools as representative of the Mission has most times been very unwelcomed.

-Directives or measures put in place have not been adhered to.

-Also the Sierra Leone Mission should ensure that the Ministry of Education recognizes Saturday as our Worship Day and that no Internal and External Examination should be conducted.

-I want tostrongly recommend that policy decision is taken on the support of the schools to the Sierra Leone Mission and the acceptance of the Fundamental Beliefs in all schools at the beginning of the Academic Year.

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Faithfully Submitted by;

Sally Kamara

Education Secretary - SLM