Mr Tunde reiterated the importance of education while tasking students to take reading seriously. He cautioned them to desist from wasting valuable time on social media.
“I am very happy to be in your midst and I am impressed with what I saw on your blackboards during this surprise visit. I will encourage you to read as much as possible and anything you don’t understand, ask your teachers,” he said.
Principal and proprietor of ECA School, Felix Bangura thanked TAKE-M for the goodwill gesture. He expressed deep appreciation noting that the books will be useful to both teachers and students.
Mr Bangura explained that he founded the school on 14th September 2015 at Kerr Serign with four solid classrooms and three toilets.
“I had a verbal (gentleman) agreement with the landlord to occupy part of the land and pay rent for 10 years. However, after investing the landlord gave me notice to quit in July 2018 and still demanding rent payment. I pleaded for more time as I had over 200 students and 50 in the pipeline for the next academic year but he wouldn’t listen,” Mr Bangura asserted.
He was eventually dragged to court and given two months to quit. A kind-hearted landlord understood his plight and allowed him to use his plot in Sukuta, he further said.
“Fabakary Touray of Bakau New Town is very concerned about the education of children and sponsored two classrooms. We had no choice but to move into the corrugate classrooms. The condition is not as good as in Kerr Serign but teachers and students are enjoying what they are doing,” Bangura affirmed.
Asked why he is investing in education, he said after graduating in Development Studies at Njala University, he entered the teaching field and really enjoyed it. He taught at Janet School, Strand and Success Professional Institute, a private college.
“Coming home from school, I notice many young people loitering and later come to know that their parents cannot afford school fees. So I had to enroll and provide free uniforms for some. I was lecturing at Success and had to use part of my salary to pay teachers because some parents were unable to pay the D500 school fees and we cannot send children out,” he pointed out.
He said they have been managing since 2015 and now some of their pupils are in grades 7 and 8 doing marvelously well adding: “I visit their schools regularly to monitor the fruits of the seeds implanted in them.”
Given the fact that they still maintain students from Kerr Serign, he said parents see the quality in the school and want to retain their children. As children live in different areas, the school administration is compelled to hire commuter vans to transport students on a token charge of D200 monthly.
“We are appealing to all concerned for assistance to improve our school structure,” he appealed.
On how teachers are recruited, Mr Bangura said his emphasis is on delivery. “I will sit at the back of the classroom and observe applicants display their teaching talents. Some may bring attractive certificates but they must prove themselves in my presence. We have seen a lot of improvement and students speak in English only,” Mr Bangura concluded.
In delivering the vote of thanks on behalf of management, teachers and students, Ms Fatoumatta Sabally said:“The books will positively impact the learning process of students and help improve their vocabulary and reading skills among others.”
