President Julius Maada Bio has turned the sod for the rehabilitation and extension of the Bo Government Secondary School so as to decongest its classrooms.
The $65 million project, which is funded by BADEA, is part of President Bio’s commitment to human capital development in which the Free Quality Education has seen more pupils in school.
The project covers the extension and rehabilitation of other educational institutions which include the Government Secondary School in Magburaka, the Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU), Eastern Technical University (ETU), Government Secondary School Kenema, Prince of Wales Secondary School and the office building for both the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) and Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE).
While turning the sod and handing over the Bo School project site to the contractors, President Bio expressed delight and thanked the donors of the project who were BADEA, Islamic Development Bank (IDB), OPEC Fund, and the Saudi Fund.
“More pupils are now in school as a result of the free quality education. So, this project would decongest the classrooms,” he told his audience.
He warned the contractor to ensure that quality work is done in order to prevent the government from spending more funds on rehabilitation in the future.
“I am the foreman supervisor for this project; therefore, I admonish the contractor to do a very quality work,” he noted.
President Bio urged the principal, staff and board members of Bo School to ensure that the school is modernized especially in the area of technology.
“The world has gone digital; therefore, it would be prudent for the school to meet the world’s standard. This would help the pupils to meet the prerequisite skills for job opportunities,” he stated.
Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, urged all parents to encourage their children to embrace education.
He disclosed that there would be internet and solar power installation in Bo School to complement the project.
Principal, Bo Government Secondary School, Edward Kpaka, gave a detailed analysis of what the school will benefit from the project.
“I commend President Bio for his unwavering commitment to uplifting the image of Sierra Leone’s educational system across the globe,” he said.
He noted that all structures will be rehabilitated, a two-storey building with 15 classrooms, toilet facilities, office spaces, two male staff quarters, and a dormitory will be constructed.
Paramount Chief of Kakua Chiefdom, Lappia Boima, applauded President Bio for not only putting Sierra Leone, but Africa as a whole, at the United Nations Security Council.
“President Bio’s call for Africa to have two non-permanent and permanent seats at the UNSC is a significant milestone. Today Sierra Leone carries the mantle of leadership at the UNSC, this has put Sierra on the map,” he said.