By Sulaiman Jalloh

Speaking at a government press briefing on Tuesday, Madam Joyce Wuya Tejan-Kella, Commissioner of the National Commission for Children, applauded the Ministry of Transport and Aviation for introducing a policy that allows school children in uniform to travel free of charge on ferries.

July 29, 2025 the Commissioner welcomed the ministry’s recent announcement that, effective immediately, all children wearing school uniforms are exempt from paying ferry fares. She described the move as a significant step toward easing the financial burden on parents and promoting access to education for all children, particularly those in underserved communities.

Madam Tejan-Kella also commended President Julius Maada Bio’s government for its continued investment in education, including the ongoing provision of school buses to facilitate student transportation across the country.

Highlighting the broader mission of the National Commission for Children, the Commissioner reiterated the body’s responsibility to protect and promote children’s rights. She emphasized its role in monitoring and coordinating the implementation of key international and regional legal instruments, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

In conclusion, Madam Tejan-Kella noted that the Commission, under the recently reviewed Child Rights Act of 2007, has been further empowered to investigate cases affecting children’s welfare, advocate for their protection, and contribute to policies that support their development.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday,4th August 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)