June 6, 2017 By Mohamed Massaquoi
One of the board members, Mr. Swarray and the principal commissioning one of showers
The Government Secondary School Kenema SSK), in collaboration with the Kenema Old Students’ Association (KOSA), has commissioned three flush toilets and showers, worth millions of Leones.
The project was funded by one of the leading commercial banking institutions in Sierra Leone, Guaranty Trust Bank Sierra Leone Ltd, as part of their school’s adoption programme.
It could be recalled that GSSK was badly damaged during the decade civil conflict that completely ravaged the country and efforts have been made by the government, the old students’ association and the school’s administration to address some of the challenges.
Giving an overview of the rehabilitation project, KOSA Secretary General, Abdul Karim Kamara, commended the management of GTBank for their support to the school, as the rehabilitation project was timely and significant towards the development of the school.
He said with the support of the school’s administration, they have started a school fencing project, rehabilitation of staff quarters among others, and that the association would do everything to lobby members and other stakeholders to support the school.
He added that the President of KOSA and his executive decided to use ‘Home coming and payback time’ as theme for this year’s school celebration, so that individuals could contribute in one way or the other for the school to regain its past glory.
Principal of the school, Mohamed J. Mansaray, said the boarding home was constructed with mud bricks to host only two hundred pupils, but in 1970, an IDA project constructed the modern structures and equipped them with beds, flush toilets among other facilities.
“GSSK is the only school in the eastern region that provides accommodation for boys. This has subsequently attracted many boys from all over the region. It is sad to note that over the years, the facilities in the boarding home deteriorated and the lack of good maintenance has been a challenge,” he said, adding that despite several appeals by the school administration to the government of Sierra Leone, NGOs and well-wishers for an over-haul rehabilitation of the boarding home, it has remained so until recently when KOSA solicited support from GTB for the rehabilitation of the facilities.
KOSA president, Mohamed Kallon, said they have always lived by the motto of the school and that since he took over as the national president, he has maintained such legacy.
He noted that the environment should be conducive for the boys to get quality education, which was the more reason they considered the construction of the perimeter fence of the school.
He said they were determined to improve on the staff quarters, have proper teaching and learning materials, so that pupils can come out with good results.
“We need good result coming out of this school. When I left this school in1984, my worst grade was a four. The school of the east is the school of my heart, that is why we are working towards that.GTBank is not part of the school but have done a lot for the it .That is why I encourage you all to do your banking with GTBank. When I sent letters around, GTBank management called for their intervention. So, I want to thank them for all of these. GBank is a friend and a friend for good,’’ he said.
GTBank representative, Emmanuel Abbata, thanked the president of KOSA and his executive for strengthening good relationship with the bank.
He said the school project started in 2015 with the construction of some classroom bocks in Freetown.
“We have made donation to KOSA and we are so glad to work with KOSA and the school,” he said.
He added that the principal and other speakers outlined a lot of areas that needed intervention, promising to inform the Managing Director appropriately.
‘’ I want to admonish students to make proper use of the facility and we hope we will improve more in feature,” he said.