By Foday Moriba Conteh
In line with their Early Childhood Development Center School Project, which also falls under their institution’s Free Quality Education support to the Government’s Free Quality Education (FQE) Initiative, Orange Foundation Sierra Leone has on Monday 12th April, 2021 commissioned an Ultra-Modern Pre-School Center at Kaionba Village, Korgbutuma Chiefdom within the Moyamba District, Southern Sierra Leone.
In his welcome statement, the Speaker of Korgbutuma Chiefdom, Moyamba District, Chief Adu Mbayawa, applauded Orange Foundation-Sierra Leone for considering his chiefdom for the construction of an Early Childhood Development Center School, of which he assured they will make good use of.
He noted that the people of Korgbutuma Chiefdom are very happy for such a development in their chiefdom which he said will surely complement Government’s Free Quality Education.
Adu Mbayawa assured all that the people of Korgbutuma Chiefdom and its environs will definitely make good use of the facility which will benefit their children to acquire early childhood education in that part of the county.
In her address, the Director of Orange Foundation-Sierra Leone, Jestina Betts, noted that she is overwhelmed to hand over an ultra-modern facility that will enable young children from that community to have access to early childhood learning, adding that this means that the children of Korgbutuma Chiefdom will have the same quality education foundation that children in Freetown attain.
She added that it is very evident that some of the facilities needed to ensure that the children in the provinces benefit from the Government’s Free Quality Education are not available in some parts of the country further stating how the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, which is the driver to ensure its implementation seamlessly across the country, understands the area of needs and has been pushing very hard to ensure that those needs are addressed.
Jestina pointed out that one of the objectives is to ensure that the Ministry gets an even distribution of early childhood development centers across the country.
She pointed out that they are happy to commission an Ultra-Modern Pre-School Center at Kaionba Village, Korgbutuma Chiefdom within the Moyamba District in order to support the Ministry in their stride to achieve that objective.
The Director of Orange Foundation revealed that this is the second FQE ECD School they have commissioned, noting that they have just recently commissioned one at Mayakie Village, Kambia District, and that they have equally commissioned the 2nd ECD School in Moyamba District, to ensure that the children in Korgbutuma Chiefdom have access to quality education in an environment that is conducive.
She admonished the children of Korgbutuma Chiefdom that as they commission the facility they must ensure that they acquire learning in a safe and comfortable space for free, of which she said this is not the case in some other countries or even some other areas in this country and that parents of some children pay a lot of money to ensure their children access such facilities. Congratulating them she said they are very lucky and privileged.
“Finally I want to take this opportunity to thank my team for managing this project within record time to completion. To our contractor this is indeed a great job well done. To the Paramount Chief, Section & Town Chiefs, community stakeholders and the land owning family we appreciate all the support you have given to ensure that the children of Korgbutuma Chiefdom benefit from this support. It is my desire to see that you wholeheartedly accept and guard this facility with open hands to ensure it is sustained for many years to come,” Jestina Betts concluded.
The Member of Parliament of Constituency 096, Moyamba District, Hon. Simon Fefegula also showered praises on Orange Foundation Sierra Leone for the construction of the ECD School in his constituency.
He maintained that the construction of the facility is not only important but also a very timely intervention which he described as very significant towards the development of children in the country, adding that with the construction of the pre-school in his constituency such will surely create positive impact on the lives of children in that part of the country.
In his keynote address, the Director General of NATCOM, Daniel Kaitibi, expressed appreciation to Orange Foundation-Sierra Leone for the laudable venture in constructing the said school in Korgbutuma Chiefdom, Moyamba District.
He said the Free Quality Initiative is a priority in the New Direction Agenda underscoring how His Excellency President Maada Bio considers education as very important which is why he implemented it.
The Director General also commended Orange Foundation-Sierra Leone for their effort in complementing the Government’s Free Quality Education initiative through the construction of the Early Childhood Centers.
He inspired pupils to take their studies serious underscoring how education is the key to success.
He also admonished residents to take advantage of the facility, take ownership of it and also allow their children to attend it.
A resident of Korgbutuma Chiefdom, who also happens to be a parent, Abdul Kamara expressed his warm appreciation to Orange Foundation for the construction of the pre-school in their chiefdom, furthering that the facility will help their children to get early childhood education just like children in Freetown.
He assured all that they will surely make good use of the facility as it is the first modern pre-school within the Korgbutuma Chiefdom in Moyamba District.
The event was climaxed by the official commissioning of the Early Childhood Center by the Director General of NATCOM, Daniel Kaitibi and the Chief Executive Officer, Orange-Sierra Leone Aminata Kane Ndiaye followed by a tour of the facility.
