By Sulaiman Jalloh
In a move to complement the government’s efforts to improve human capital development, Haja Mariam Jalloh from Dogoloya town, Falaba District, Northern Sierra Leone has on Thursday, January 2, 2025, opened an international standard school that teaches three international languages; French, Arabic and English.
This initiative underscores the unwavering commitment of Haja Mariam to prioritizing education in that part of the country. The establishment of this school marks a pivotal step in enhancing educational opportunities for young people and fostering a brighter tomorrow for communities.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Haja Mariam Jalloh, the pioneer of the Ar-Rasheed Islamic School, Dogoloya started by sharing an inspiring story about her school age, noting the time her father taught them about the value of Islam and the importance of education.
According to her, the whole idea of the school started in 2014 when two kids fought in the community, adding she noticed that about four hundred young people were not in school at the time hence the idea of Ar-Rasheed Islamic School began. “I called my younger brother and told him that there is a darkness in Dogoloya and the only thing I thought that would brighten Dogoloya is education. Not only Western education but also Islamic education” she recounted
Madam Jalloh emphasized the importance of education, especially the girl child education. Although she said there were difficulties in getting teachers, they were able to manage to get one teacher. She, however, encourages member of the community to embrace the opportunity and to send their children to the school so that they can acquire quality education.
Speaking as a special guest, Alhaji Umaru Sanu Barrie, President of Fullah Progressive Union (FPU), thanked Haja Mariam and her family for the establishment of a more than school that teaches three international languages while stressing the need for education. “If you educate one girl, child, it is like you have educated a whole nation,” the president asserted. He emphasizes the significance of the school in that part of the country while assuring his organization’s full support. He, however, conveyed a message from the Vice President, who he said has promised the government’s support to the school.
Mr. Barrie encouraged all members and the general public to support this noble endeavour and to continue advocating for quality education for all.
Abdulai Yillah is the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) coordinator in Falaba Districts, who explained the functions of TSC, which are to train and recruit teachers, among other functions, while thanking Haja Mariam Jalloh and her family for the initiative. He said a family should have a succession plan. “For us, any teacher with qualification, we are ready to approve that teacher by the government of Sierra Leone,” he pointed out.
He promised that even teachers from the new school could be approved by the government, saying the government is ready to add the remaining fifteen percent of teacher’s salaries.
Hon. Mohammed Alpha Jalloh, representing the people of Falaba District and a brother to the pioneer of the school, said they were happy to host dignitaries from across Sierra Leone and beyond.