Schlenker Celebrates 55 Years
One of the oldest secondary schools in Port Loko District, Schlenker Secondary School celebrates 55 years past Friday 10th October, 2014. (Photo: Chernor Sahid Kamara, Principal)
The school was established on 10th October 1959 at Old Port Loko, Port Loko/Freetown Highway.
Mr. Chernor Sahid Kamara, Principal of the school, who is also an old boy, disclosed that due to the Ebola outbreak, the school would not observe the anniversary and revealed that plans were underway for the school administration to construct additional buildings including staff quarters, rehabilitate others and construct a boarding home for the increasing population of over 1,500 pupils.
He informed that two-thirds of the classrooms have been rehabilitated with two water wells, a desktop computer laboratory established, brand new brass band purchased, a Dstv teaching and standard science laboratories with basic equipment for public examinations also established.
The Principal further enlightened that the Schlenker Secondary School was first opened for boys with 150 pupils at the residence of the late Paramount Chief Adikali Modu in central Port Loko and later transferred to the United Pentecostal Church (UPC) now Maranatha at Old Port Loko and finally at its present location on 10th October, 1959.
He continued that after the war, the school was used for two years as NCDDR camp for ex-combatants during which process the buildings were destroyed but lamented that Government has not done much to rehabilitate the school.
On the academic front, the Principal continued that the school has been doing well in external examinations over the past ten years to the extent of winning several academic awards in public examinations.
He further revealed that the school has achieved a lot in sports like football, volleyball and athletics among other disciplines within the Port Loko District.
The Principal further highlighted the challenges of the school including accommodation for teachers and day pupils, additional furniture, laboratory equipment, especially for physics and chemistry and the lack of electricity.
Mr. C. S. Kamara appealed to old pupils of the school to emulate those who have contributed immensely to the development of their alma mater and further pleaded with Government and NGOs to provide a bus to ease the transportation constraints of pupils who walk over ten miles to school lamenting that the road leading to the school is deplorable.
The school has produced several prominent personalities in governance and other spheres of life like Alhaji Ibrahim Kemoh Sesay, Political and Public Affairs Minister, Honorable Alhaji Serray Dumbuya of Constituency 049; Port Loko District Council Chairman, Ahmid Munirr Fofanah, Senior District Officer Port Loko, Mohamed Sheik Kargbo; Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Liberia and former Inspector General of Police, Brima Acha Kamara; Chief Immigration Officer, Alpha Kholifa Koroma and the Director of SLARI, Rokupr, Dr. C. S. Kamara.
Other notable old boys are WAAP Director, Sorie Sulaiman Sesay; Maforki Islamic Secondary School Principal, Foday Santigie Kanu, Deputy Port Loko District Council Chairman, Ibrahim Santigie Bangura; former Deputy Internal Affairs Minister, now EOC Chairman, Port Loko District, Raymond Kabia, Dr. Abie Kanu, wife of the Minister of Information; Peter D. Cat, Marcus Sesay, Abdul Karim Koroma of SLRTA, Abdul Karim Kamara to name but a few.
By Abdul R. Bedor Kamara
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