The National Commission for Democracy (NCD) has provided flagpole galleries with the national flag, a stand-mounted canvas with the national anthem and the national pledge each and other relevant civic education materials for twenty five (25) schools across the country as part of the Commission’s drive to espouse Civic Education in the school system.
The official presentation of the items on the second phase of the flagpoles project was done between the 14th and 18th May, 2018 even as schools were selected from every region to ensure that they all benefit from the project.
Presenting the items on behalf of the Commission, the Commissioner for the Western Region, Benjamin Macfoy, noted that the presentation of the constructed flagpole gallery, the roll-up stand with the national anthem and the national pledge together with relevant civic education materials is part of the implementation of the second phase of the flagpoles project. He reiterated that providing Civic Education is one of the core mandates of the Commission and that the Commission has been working tirelessly to ensure the fulfillment of this mandate with a view to creating an enlightened society. The Commissioner called on the school authorities and the pupils to make good use of the materials.
The Southern Region Commission, Madam Marian Samu, who also presented the items to schools authorities and pupils in the Southern region, reiterated the need for Civic Education to be taught in schools. She said the Commission considers it worthwhile to provide civic education materials for schools even as it desires to fulfill its mandate to create and sustain an enlightened society through Civic Education. She assured the school authorities and their pupils that the Commission will continue to provide them with the requisite support to improve on their civic consciousness so that they can become good citizens.
Whilst making his presentation, the Commissioner for the Eastern Region, Momoh Bockarie, emphasized the importance of Civic Education saying that civic knowledge creates patriotism and nationalism in the citizenry even as it teaches people how to conduct themselves in the most appropriate ways in society. He said the Commission is determined to promote Civic Education with a view to creating a citizenry that is well informed and ready to contribute to national development. The Commissioner encouraged the school authorities to make use of the materials and ensure that the items are taken care of very well.
In his official presentation, the Commissioner for the Northern Region, Bai John Conteh, underscored the need for Civic Education to be re-introduced into the school curriculum. He said the Commission therefore solicits the complete cooperation of school authorities, parents and pupils to fully complement the effort of the Commission until civic education is actually re-introduced into the school curriculum. He further noted that the Commission is vigorously pursuing the task of re-introducing Civic Education into the school system. Whilst encouraging the school authorities and pupils to jealously use and take care of the items, Commissioner Conteh admonished them not to despise what he referred to as humble nationalistic beginnings, but rather they should be entreated to consider very highly their responsibilities as parents, teachers and pupils to themselves and their nation.
Receiving the items, the principals of the various schools expressed delight over the donation the Commission made to their schools. They assured the Commission of their willingness to cooperate with the Commission in promoting civic education and to also use the items to serve the purpose for which they are provided even as they promised to take good care of the items.
Some of the Schools that benefitted from the project include the Government Rokel Secondary School in Freetown, United Methodist Secondary School in Bo, Jiama Nimikoroh Secondary School in Kono and the Ansarul Islamic Secondary School in Lungi.
