Port Loko District commences Back to School campaign

Commentary

By Hassan Bruz.

In spite of the different shades of opinion on the re- opening of schools slated for the end of March 2015, the people of the Northern district of Port Loko have resolved to work along with the guidelines prescribed by Government through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

This was confirmed by the Deputy Director of Education in Port Loko –Briama Taimu Koroma (photo) in a recent interview with the Sierra Leone News Agency [SLENA].

He said the establishment of measures and mechanisms before the reopening of schools are to make sure that the pupils are in a real protective environment – that will not put them at risk of catching Ebola.

The Deputy Director of Education said the district has a total of 689 schools out of which 15 were being used as Ebola Treatment Centres, Holding Centres, Security Bases or Lodgings for Burial Teams.

He said a committee which is headed by his directorate and is comprised of key partners in education has already been set up, while a needs assessment exercise that is jointly organised by the Education Ministry and UNICEF is now out to assess the state of schools in a bid to identify those that can be classified as priorities.

He added that the Ministry is also planning to train at least three teachers per school on Ebola virus prevention, social mobilisation and psychosocial support in schools.

Briama Taimu Koroma said he has also engaged the District Health Management Team [DHMT], BRAC and other partners that are responsible for the decommissioning and disinfection of schools that were used as holding centres, treatment centres and security bases.

The director said he was much more concerned over the pending BECE which is scheduled for 16th. March 2015.This is because, three of the usual examination centres were being used as either holding centres or security bases and are yet to be decontaminated.

As earlier indicated in my opening statement, there is an apparent conflict on the issue of whether schools should be reopened in March or that the authorities should wait until when Ebola is eradicated from the entire country. I will keep you posted on what argument eventually prevails.