‘A Hungry Belly Has No Ears’: Education Minister Speaks on Hunger and Education
Aaron Parker Sierra Leone’s Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, has highlighted the strong connection between food security and education, stressing that hunger can undermine children’s ability to learn and contribute meaningfully to national development.
Minister Sackey made the remarks while opening the second Sierra Leone World Food Prize Youth Institute at Country Lodge Hotel in Freetown, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the World Food Prize Foundation.
The programme brought together 16 young Sierra Leoneans selected from across the country to develop and present ideas addressing challenges related to hunger, climate change and poverty.
According to Minister Sackey, the initiative reflects the broader objectives of Free Quality School Education, which he said should go beyond producing academic certificates to developing young people capable of identifying challenges and creating solutions.
He emphasised that education and agriculture should not be viewed as separate areas, noting that a child’s ability to learn is closely linked to access to adequate food, while national development also depends on the country’s capacity to feed its population.
Addressing the participating students, the minister encouraged them to remain committed to their ideas even when the results may take time to materialise. He urged them to view their proposals as seeds that could contribute to addressing Sierra Leone’s long-term food and development challenges.
Minister Sackey also called on the jury to provide constructive and honest feedback to the young participants, while commending educators and mentors for supporting the students throughout the programme.
He further encouraged development partners to continue supporting initiatives that equip young people with the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to food security and national development.
The World Food Prize Youth Institute provides young people with an opportunity to explore solutions to global food security challenges, while encouraging innovation and leadership among the next generation.
Minister Sackey concluded by challenging stakeholders to consider how hunger affects people’s ability to participate fully in society and what more can be done to ensure that vulnerable communities have access to food, education and opportunities.