Pupils blast teachers, Education Minister
Pupils of Government Model Secondary School have described the attitude of their teachers as unprofessional and unpatriotic; and accuse the Education Minister of incompetence. (Photo: Minister of Education, Minkailu Bah)
“Even though government boastfully says it has increased teachers salaries, our teachers (Government Model School) have had ceaseless moments not coming to class to teach us,” a sizeable number of Model School pupils said.
The students complained that teachers hardly enter their classes to teach, but prefer extra lessons which, to a good number of the pupils, are deprivation to the highest estimation.
Reacting to the allegation, the Vice Principal, Mr. Feika said it is the students who do not take their studies seriously, adding that most students don’t attend classes.
“They will rather hang around around while teachers teach in class,” the vice principal said. “Others,” he said, “don’t do their assignments at all.”
On their part, the pupils complained that teachers are in the habit of relaxing themselves at the staff room thus abandoning classes.
A pupil who asked for his name not to be mentioned said whenever teachers give assignments they collect Le 2,000 from each pupil even before receiving the assignments from them.
Adding: “those pupils who don’t have the money will not be graded at all.”
“Most of us spend the day sleeping in class because teachers don’t come to teach us,” another pupil lamented, adding however that other students are left without option but roam about in the school compound not having anything to do.
Site visit by this press revealed that classrooms at the school were observed empty and a considerable number of pupils idly stood outside aimlessly.
“No teacher is here to teach us,” they said. “We are tired of sitting in class rooms having nothing to do. Here (outside), we get fresh air.”
In one of the class rooms, a student, Mohamed Kamara, was observed teaching his colleagues as according to him, the teachers have abandoned the classrooms.
When contacted for comment, this is what the Vice Principal had to say: “Can’t you understand, the acting Principal is sick and presently I am the only one supervising all the teachers, its difficult for me,” he admitted.
It is a fact that there are assigned education inspectors who are paid fat salaries and are tasked to checkmate the conduct of school authorities countrywide.
The fact that pupils of Model School now react to teachers negative response to issues bordering teaching, tells however that some form of measures must be put in place by the Ministry of Education if Sierra Leone is to regain its lost pride as the Athens of Africa.
Neglect by teachers in meeting up to the prescribed syllabuses for secondary school pupils, on a number of occasions, has brought disappointment to this country’s education in external examinations.
By Emma Black
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