OPINION > Something To Think About Sword of Damocles Hangs Over Poor Teachers in Sierra Leone Posted by Roland Bankole Marke on Apr 14, 2008, 03:52

The Minister of Education in Sierra Leone Dr. Minkailu Bah, threatens to ‘weed out’ untrained teachers in primary and secondary schools in the war bruised, fatigue West African country. The expression “weed out” contextually conotates negativism. Education is necessary, as it is the life blood of any dynamic and progressive society. Investment in education is essential for socio-economic and political posterity. The poor, untrained and neglected teachers have made priceless sacrifice, helping to nurture and educate our less privileged children. They should not be portrayed as a disposable commodity in society.

Frankly, these teachers have experienced all sorts of indignity at the hands of pompous and conceited school authorities, including the general public, and frequently do not receive their salaries on time for months on end. Where’s the compassion and human dignity here Mr. Minister? While private schools are better off in terms of paying their teachers better salaries and on time. This is plausible reasoning for the exodus of government teachers to seek private schools or greener pastures in other jobs or professions.

How did the Ministry of Education recruit untrained teachers in the first place? What happened to its blueprint that stipulates the qualifications that teachers should possess in order to secure teaching jobs at both primary and secondary levels? A generation of children has not even received any formal education, since the insurrection of the rebel war in 1991, except violence, lawlessness, married to fractured governance.

Logically, the demand for teachers should far outweigh its current supply. It is such a deplorable sight observing young kids, mostly little girls peddling wares on their heads when they should be in school getting at least a basic primary education. Most of them are war victims, who are the forgotten ones in Sierra Leone. Their parents are in a miserable economic status too, who cannot survive without the meager income that these kids help bring home. A large concentration of illiterate children and their parents are blooming in addition to over 60% illiteracy that still plagues this nation. The future spells doom and gloom for these children, now living a substandard lifestyle. Class warfare that was partly responsible for the country’s war is still alive and flourishing.

What is the best approach that Dr. Bah should adopt to fix this problem?  Sir, you just cannot fire these poor, helpless teachers like that, without giving them reasonable notice. Remember, you were taught by teachers probably by untrained or unqualified ones. This is my suggestion. Work with the head teachers and principals to organize workshops and training courses that would upgrade the teachers’ skills, and giving them ample opportunity to acquire the necessary qualifications.

Teachers with long service should be given study leave with pay to acquire the necessary credentials. Each teacher should be mandated to sign a contact, to cut down on turnover, especially during the middle of a school year. Those who refuse to comply after the time expires would have failed to comply with the laid down policy.

The Freetown Teachers College was set up decades ago, to encourage untrained and unqualified primary school teachers to attend evening classes, and eventually achieve proficiency and earn their qualifications. It worked in the past, please try this idea out. The same should be done for secondary school teachers too. But if you choose to be heartless, and throw out the dedicated and experienced teachers in the cold, who have made teaching a passion and calling, the consequences could be dire. Some of them have held the fort, while others have deserted teaching for greener pastures. If you do, you will be digging your grave unconsciously. No matter what your good intensions prove to be.

Historically, the All Peoples’ Congress government had had bitter struggles with teachers. It was in 1990 that the teachers in Sierra Leonean went on a national strike, because of non payment of their salaries for over three months, including the interference of politics into the activities of the Sierra Leone Teachers Union. Schools went on a national strike for the rest of the school year. It was the poor children that suffered most.

Teachers are a united and enlightened group that the minister can negotiate with not intimidate. They know their rights, which they can use to the peril of the government. Give them enough time to get the required training and credentials, and then transition smoothly to the new requirement. Students’ turmoil can spell trouble with unintended consequences. The country does not need any more student upheaval at this crucial time.

The appearance of ghost teachers on the payroll of schools did not happen by accident, but was a concerted effort carved to siphon funds from government coffers. A teacher’s application is approved by the ministry of education. And before any name appears on the payroll voucher of any school, the ministry of education must have scrutinized and approved it. Even fictitious institutions that collect payroll vouchers from the ministry of education, must receive the blessing of the ministry officials. Corruption is endemic and has become a way of life in Sierra Leone.

 If government employees continue to repeat this criminal action, then the risk must be worth the reward. The rational is, the root cause of the problem should be inoculated and acknowledged.

Teachers are paid a pittance with deplorable terms and conditions of service. Let us be practical, can a minister live on the salary that teachers are paid? What about housing and transportation for teachers? Probably, that sounds like a fairy tale. In the early 90s transportation and rent allowances paid to teachers was only forty Leones, equivalent to less than two dollars.

This amount cannot even rent a room at Kroo Bay, Sierra Leone’s worst ghetto. To attract dynamic and professional teachers, an attractive salary and benefits package should be offered to teachers. To attract good, tenable teachers, please offer them a livable remuneration package. The quality of education in the country in general has been watered down over the years. To raise the standards a creative and workable system should be introduced. The current system introduced by Dr. Wurie has failed the test of time.

The demise and aftermath of a protracted war, together with a dearth of funding and a volatile, political climate, chocked the seeds by the wayside.

To keep teachers motivated and inspired better incentives that include bonuses, prizes and scholarships should be available and accessible to deserving teachers, not given to cronies and surrogates who expect rewards in return for their political allegiance. Teachers need today’s skills to supply tomorrow’s market. Technology is not static or dormant, and teachers should be equipped with today’s necessary skills like computer technology.

Even the University of Sierra Leone did not have computers until recently. Thanks to generous donors who have been donating computers to a few institutions in Sierra Leone. This is the age of technology. Job creation can only have legs if the ministry pays attention to modern technology involved in the training of teachers and students alike. Presently, how many schools have computers with Internet connection in our primary and secondary schools? These are the salient and urgent issues that the minister should be addressing right now. Education usually generates development, and it will in time kill corruption, creating a system of accountability.