ACC targets pupils in Matotoka and Rosengbeh towns
The Regional Office of the Anti-Corruption Commission North, has on Wednesday 8th May, 2013 enlightened secondary school pupils in Matotoka and Rosengbeh in the Tane Chiefdom Tonkolili District to enable them speak against illegal charges and other forms of corrupt practices in their schools. (Photo:Manager Sandi urging pupils to report corruption issues to the ACC)
This was done in an awareness raising exercise titled ‘Meet the Schools Campaign’ at the St. Peter’s Catholic Junior Secondary School, Rosengbeh and the Sierra Leone Muslim Brotherhood Secondary School, Matotoka.
The objective of these engagements was to, enable the pupils be aware of corrupt practices prevalent in their schools, such as illegal charges, their roles and responsibilities and encourage them to report these anomalies to the ACC.
Pupils listening keenly to staff of ACC as they conduct ‘Meet the School’ campaign
Manager ACC North Patrick Sandi highlighting instances of corrupt practices in schools
Speaking during the campaign at the respective schools, Regional Manager of ACC, Mr. Patrick Sandi lamented that one of the major things hindering the achievement of quality education in schools is the sustained presence of corruption. He maintained that the schools have been infested with corrupt practices such as: examination malpractices, illegal admissions and promotions, falsification of examination results, payment for collection of report cards, pamphleteering and misuse of public funds. Manager Sandi emphasized that all these practices fall under the offences in the 2008 Act and punishment for each count is a fine not less than thirty million Leones or imprisonment for not less than three years or to both.
Cross section of pupils
Mr. Sandi further urged the pupils to report to the Commission any corrupt acts in their schools and that as students; they have an essential role to play if corruption is to be obliterated in the school system. “You are the future icons of this country, but also, you have the onus to prepare the future for yourselves. If you don’t help the ACC to fight this malaise, the future will be doomed for you” he stressed to the pupils in Rosengbeh and Matotoka.
Dilating on the purpose of the sensitization campaigns in the schools, ACC’s District Coordinator Tonkolili, Mr. Abdulai Saccoh told staff and pupils that it is was meant to educate and update them on the work of the Commission, what they should deviate from as corrupt activities and solicit their support. He emphasized the Commission’s determination to stamp out corruption in schools and therefore gave stern warning to staff and pupils to desist from such unwholesome practices. Saccoh underscored the point to the pupils that the Commission is only leading the fight against corruption that is why they should be prepared to be foot soldiers of the anti-corruption force.
Pupils of SLMB Secondary School Matotoka listening to anti-corruption messages from ACC staff
In their statements, Mr. Samson Y. Bangura, Principal, SLMB Secondary School Matotoka, and Mr. Abdul G. Turay, senior teacher St. Peter’s Catholic Junior Secondary School Rosengbeh appreciated the step taken by the ACC to spread anti-corruption messages to the pupils and teachers as it will go a long way to guide all and prevent the occurrences of corrupt practices in their schools.
Similar educational campaigns will be conducted next week at the King David, St. Mathew’s and Boyo Junior Secondary Schools in Matotoka and Bumbuna towns respectively.
ACC Makeni
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