UNICEF hands over two vehicles to the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education

Freetown, 09th April 2020 - The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Sierra Leone has handed over two vehicles valued at US $94,000 to boost the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education’s monitoring activities across all the regions in the country.

Over the past decade, UNICEF has supported the Government of Sierra Leone to make great strides towards getting more children into school and providing them with quality learning opportunities. This has been through supporting the provision of teacher training, constructing water and sanitation facilities, procuring and distributing reading and learning materials, providing support to vulnerable and out of school children, constructing and rehabilitating classrooms as well as promoting school readiness for early learners.

Continuous monitoring and evaluation of these interventions and routine feedback of lessons learned from such exercises into programme design and implementation is critical towards meeting the country’s global education priorities, such as the Sustainable Development Goal Four 4 i.e., inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Mr. David Banya, received the vehicles on behalf of the Hon Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Dr. David Moinina Sengbe and the entire Ministry.   

“This support of two vehicles by UNICEF to boost MBSSE’s monitoring activities across Sierra Leone is very timely, significant and well appreciated. It couldn’t have come at a better time than now when the Ministry has intensified efforts to monitor activities of all its substations in the country with a view to ensuring that planned programmes are implemented accordingly,” said Mr. Banya.

“Regular monitoring will enable MBSSE to achieve very crucial issues of education including inclusiveness meant to enable all Sierra Leoneans to participate in the learning process, irrespective of their special circumstances.  I would like to give assurance that the vehicles will be used for their intended purpose”.      

The official handover of the vehicles comes at a time when UNICEF is working closely with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to ensure that access to regular and quality education is not disrupted by the current global Corona Virus pandemic, COVID-19.

Across many countries in the world, COVID-19 has upset the lives of children. Quarantine efforts such as school closures and movement restrictions, while considered necessary, have disrupted children's routines and learning opportunities. 

Ongoing monitoring and evaluation of this current situation in Sierra Leone, ensuring that children have access to learning opportunities even if schools are closed and protecting children from transmission of COVID-19 when they return to school, are critical during this period.

“Pandemics such as the current COVID-19 can bring education to a halt, depriving children of their fundamental right to learn and to ultimately improve their life chances.  Monitoring the learning initiatives during the pandemic as well preparations for school reopening is a key component of our work with Government in this response, said UNICEF Representative, Dr. Suleiman Braimoh. “Our ongoing work to support government to provide every child with quality education has never been more critical than during this time”.