November 25, 2016 By Andrew Ngebuva
Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Education Science and Technology, Brima Michael Turay, yesterday asserted that the future of the educational sector in Sierra Leone was bright.
While reacting to question on the massive exams malpractices in the country at recent times, Mr Turay said cheating in public examination has been happening but it was as a result of his ministry’s proactiveness that the said malpractice has been exposed to the public.
He was addressing journalists at the Ministry of Information and Communications weekly press briefing at Youyi building in Freetown.
Mr Turay boasted that it was first in the history of Sierra Leone that teachers were receiving the highest unprecedented increase in their salaries.
He disclosed that untrained and unqualified teachers were paid Le160, 000 prior to 2007, but stated that they were now paid Le600 000.
“Trained and qualified teachers are getting above Le800, 000 with degree holders getting above Le1 million. Government is spending Le41 billon quarterly on education in the country,” he said.
He added that there was considerable increase in the performance of pupils attempting public examinations, adding that the long awaited school feeding programme will kick-off in the second term of this academic year.
He said the school feeding project would be geared towards encouraging pupils to attend schools for a brighter future of Sierra Leone, thus admonishing parents to encourage their children attend schools.
“With the way things are unfolding in the education sector, I can proudly say that the future is bright,” he reiterated.