Freetown, Apr 18 (SLENA) – The newly appointed Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Ambassador Victor Bockarie Foh has expressed satisfaction over the appreciable turn out of pupils of both primary and secondary schools in the Western Urban areas of the capital.
He made this statement during his tour of about ten (10) schools and one college last week, marking the resumption of classes following the closure of learning institutions as a result of the Ebola outbreak, nearly a year ago.
Addressing the pupils and students of the institutions visited, Vice President Foh said that the purpose of his visit was to assess the level of turn-out of pupils and students in the Western Urban as speculations were making the rounds that the turn-out of pupils was very low.
He said he embarked on the tour on behalf of His Excellency who was in United States discussing issues relating to the post Ebola period, adding that the President was much concerned about the attendance of pupils and students in the various schools nationwide.
While commending the pupils for their attendance, the Vice President also encouraged them to embark on prevention and control of spread of the Ebola Virus, urging them to properly utilize the Ebola kits provided and report any Ebola like symptoms to their school authorities.
He also encouraged them to study very hard to achieve their educational goal as they are the future leaders of this great nation.
To the teachers, the President Foh called on them to continue teaching the children not only from the academic syllabus but also the rules of hygiene in order to for the country to go back to normalcy.
Thanking the teachers for their collaborative efforts in working with the Commission of the Re-opening of Schools and the Ministry of Education, he assured them of government’s expeditious support in addressing whatever concerns they might faced during this period.
Speaking to students of the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology, the Vice President described the Ebola scourge as a very evil virus that has killed thousands of their compatriots. He encouraged students to observe hygiene rules and assured that government will do everything humanly possible for students to study in peaceful environment.
On his part, the Minister of Education Science and Technology, Dr. Minkailu Bah encouraged schools and college authorities to make judicious use of the Ebola preventive materials supplied to them and re- affirmed government commitment in footing two academic year fees for pupils in public schools.
Minister of Information and Communication, Alpha Kanu, in his statement, said the measures that government has put in place for the re-opening of school were very much satisfactory.
He said that he was confident that by Monday this week, there would 99% of turn-out as compared to last week’s turn-out which he said was over 60%.
He said he admired the enthusiasm of the pupils and students for being back to their various schools and colleges to learn.
The Vice President was accompanied by Commissioner for Re-opening of schools, Madam Christiana Thorpe, Health Minister Dr. Abu Bakarr Fofanah, Minister of Political and Public Affairs, Kemoh Sesay, Youth Minister, Alimamy Kamaraa and a cross section of the Executive of the Sierra Leone Teachers Union.
