Professor Mbaba’s presentation highlighted the challenges leading to the snail-pace of educational progress in Sierra Leone.
He mentioned the negative public perception about teachers’ performance in schools, illegal admission of pupils and establishment of schools,
faking of certificates by teachers and ghost schools and teachers among others.
He recommended that the educational system of the country should be designed with a clear defined focus, encouraging the principals to carefully examine the educational system and match it with the quality
of teachers they have. Professor Mbamba emphasized that the core of every country’ educational system is determined by what pupils learn, how well they
learn and what benefit they attract from their education . He said that it is difficult to define quality operations in Sierra Leone’s educational system due to its complex stages, looking at its
inputs process and output dimensions. He said taking Sierra Leone to the next admirable level, components to be implemented include need base curriculum, appropriate physical facilities, use of moral approaches in teaching ,professional preparation of teachers ,performance of children, and linking education to life skills and world of works. Professor Mbamba reminded the principals about community mistrust in the current educational system, which he said should not be over
looked if any progress is to be made in the right direction. He added that teachers should maintain high standard of discipline, make regular lesson notes ,and maintain ethical values of the
discipline because they are dealing with the future of the nation. The Bo District Council Chairman, Joseph Maada Bindi said teachers are responsible for shaping the minds of the nation.
He further stated that if teachers have poor delivery qualities, the learning outcome could always be definitely negative. He said the deteriorating state of the country’s
education needs a fundamental approach to rejuvenate the entire system to make it functional once again. He revealed that he wants government to pay more attention to
teachers’ recruitment and motivation. He encouraged parents to be supportive and teachers to be professional thereby improving on their teaching methodologies. He expressed belief that Sierra Leone cannot be developed if her
teachers remain to be of poor quality.
