By Jane B. Mansaray.
The Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), Mrs. Emily Gogra has assured teachers of a better job employment awaiting them with an improved salary condition and PIN CODE for specifically TFSL trained and qualified teachers in Sierra Leone.
Mrs. Emily Gogra gave the assurance over the weekend in Freetown, at the graduation ceremony of TFSL Cohort2 Fellows, and the official launching of the National Buddying System, held on the 28th August 2021 at the Hill Valley Hotel, Signal Hill in Freetown.
The Minister congratulated the efforts of the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TFSL, Josephine M. Saidu and the graduands for adding value to the New Direction Government of President Julius Maada Bio flagship program of Free Quality Education program in Sierra Leone.
She described the Cohort 2 Fellows as teachers of the 21st century, and further admonished them to be good example of the existing teachers and reject the passion of society, particularly with regards to money and maintain integrity.
Mrs. Emily Gogra encouraged Fellows to keep abiding by the teachers code of conduct, and promised to engage the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) to recruit and enroll TFSL Teachers into employment.
A representative from the (TSC) assured of TFSL sustainability through the transformation of Fellows stipend into salary. “This is not a promise, but it is something that is definitely going to happen”, TSC Representative Madam Abu reassured.
Josephine M. Saidu, described the Cohort2 Fellows as ambassadors for not only TFSL but Sierra Leone as a whole.
She said the graduands are existing teachers that had gone through the TFSL five-week professional course with (60) modules; aimed at building a movement to transform leaders to end education inequity in Sierra Leone.
Madam Saidu encouraged all to celebrate the TFSL teachers as they move to deprived and underdeveloped communities to teach, lead and create impact in the education sector.
She said the graduation of Cohort 2 fellows is a testament to hard work and commitment, and assured the government through the Ministry of MBSSE of training more six to seven thousand teachers by the end of this year 2021.
The founder and CEO, Josephine M. Saidu expressed gratitude to the Government of Sierra Leone for allowing TFSL to be opened and operate in the Country since 2014. She emphasised on the issue of sustainability and called on government and partners to give helping hands.
The National Buddying System is a two-year program supported by ProFuturo, to help trained and qualified teachers in the educational sector through the TFSL Pre-Service Training Institute.
This is said to be a program that will be replicated every year for Fellows, and in supporting them into any work of life but if government gives them PIN CODES they will be able to stay in the classroom.
Country Director of Plan International, Mr. Evariste Sindayigaya, stressed on the need of ensuring girls get quality education.
The theme for the Teacher Professional Development Programme is โWithout Trained Teachers Schools are Just Buildingsโ.
Over two thousand existing teachers nationwide have received professional training from TFSL and have graduated as Cohort1 and Cohort2 Fellows.
