ABC post-elections campaign reaches Bo schools & Ataya Base
The post-election civic education campaign of the Attitudinal and Behavioural Change (ABC) Secretariat has reached schools in Bo. The ABC Secretariat visited at least three schools in the southern city of Bo on Tuesday 15th January 2013. The pupils at the St. Andrews Secondary School, Methodist High School and Commercial Secondary School, received interesting and educative lectures on their civic rights and responsibilities as pupils and citizens of Sierra Leone. In the lectures, special premium was put on the importance of the girl-child education and the need for violence-free school activities. (Photo: Programme Manager Ishmeal lecturing Ataya Base members on Good Governance)
On the same Tuesday, the ABC Secretariat also stormed the popular Kasiatama Ataya Base situated along Ngalu Road in Bo City, and held an interesting interactive session with members and customers of the Ataya Base.
At the schools, Program Manager of the ABC Secretariat, Mr. Ishmael Cole, told the pupils that the Secretariat was visiting to compliment the efforts of the teachers in shaping the future of the young generation.
Pupils of Bo Commercial Secondary School
He said the fact that the world we are currently leaving in is widely believed to be a ‘women’s world’ signifies the importance of the girl-child. He called on the female pupils to judiciously utilize that opportunity by staying loyal to their education.
Education, he furthered, should be the utmost priority of the pupils, as he puts it: “Education is the only instrument that will positively transform individuals and a nation”.
Female pupils getting pregnant after taking their BECE is of great concern to the country, he said, while pointing out that BECE should not be the terminus of the girl-child education.
“In this world we are living today, men don’t only look out for beautiful women but seek quality women,” Mr. Cole said, noting that beauty combined with education is what makes a woman a quality woman.
The Programme Manager lecturing the students on their civic rights and responsibilities as citizens of Sierra Leone
Mr. Cole emphasized that the future of this country is doomed if the pupils don’t inculcate positive attitudes towards education.
“This is the time for you to sit down and reflect on the reasons responsible for your educational under-performance,” he advised, while disclosing that there is no magic in education.
He also advised the pupils to desist from all forms of violence, as according to him, sports meets are not avenues for pupils to fight each other.
Pupils of St. Andrews Secondary School
To the teachers, Mr. Cole reminded them that they are supposed to be the surrogate parents of the pupils, icons of hope and mentors.
The ABC Secretariat, he said, vehemently condemns the acts of teachers impregnating pupils, among several other professional misconducts that the teachers are guilty of. “These pupils are not your wives; and posterity will judge you by the way you behave to them,” he ended.
At the Kasiatama Ataya Base, Ishmael Cole educated the audience about the work of the ABC Secretariat and the significance of democracy, good governance and political tolerance. He also sensitized the Ataya Base audience on their civic rights and responsibilities.
In summary, Mr. Cole said democracy and good governance will only thrive if the citizens are tolerant and participate in the process of development.
Courtesy of ABC Communications Office
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