After competing with thirteen other schools in the Moyamba District, Islamic Harford School for Girls has emerged as the winner of the debate on Radical Inclusion and President Bio’s Big-Five Gamechangers organized by the Office of the Chief Minister of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

The two days of intensive quiz and debate competitions took place at the Moyamba District Council Hall on the 30th April and 1st May 2024.

The fourteen competing schools are; Alex Koroma Sec. School- Bradford, Prosperity Girls High School-Rotifunk, St. Pius Secondary School-Bauya, Howard Memorial Sec. School-Shenge, Bagruwa Ahmadiyya Muslim Sec. Sch.-Sembehun, Ahmadiyya Voc. Sec. Sch.-Gbangbatoke, Dasse Agric. Sec. Sch.-Mano Dasse, Taiama Sec. Sch. Taiama, Government Sec. Sch.-Moyamba Junction, Harford School for Girls-Moyamba, Moyamba Boys Sec. Sch.-Moyamba, St. Joseph Vocational Sec. Sch.-Moyamba, St. Michael’s Secondary Sch.-Moyamba, and St. Martin’s Sec. Sch.-Moyamba.

‘The success of government’s Feed Salone agenda can be achieved using Radical Inclusion policies and practices’, ‘Mechanize farming is fundamental to the achievement of large-scale food production’, ‘Radical Inclusion Policy which allows pregnant girls to stay in school is good for society at large’, ‘A reformed Public Sector that incorporate elements of Radical Inclusion Policy enhances performance,’ among others, these are some of the debate topics from the group stage to the Grand Final.

Harford School for Girls and St. Joseph’s Vocational Secondary School made it to the final. The winner Harford School for Girls received a trophy with SLL 15,000 cash, 1st Runner Up St. Joseph’s Vocational Secondary School received a trophy with SLL 10,000 cash and 2nd Runner Up Moyamba Boys Secondary School received a trophy with SLL 5,000 cash.
The Best Debater is Mohamed Tele Sow of Moyamba Boys Secondary School.

Mohamed Sow commended the Office of the Chief Minister for organizing such a competition. “This has inspired me to do more research on government programmes and policies and see how our leaders are pushing to meet their manifesto promises. As for the Radical Inclusion policy, I will join the advocacy in my district and particularly in my school,” he said.

“This is the time for progressive ideas that drive inclusion. This is the time for young people to lead us towards national development. This is the time for Radical Inclusion. Let’s debate. And here is my promise, on my next available opportunity, I will take along Hannah Quee of Islamic Secondary School, the winner of the Best Debater Award on my official trip,” the Chief Minister Dr. Moinina David Sengeh stated.

According to the Chief Minister, young lawyer Anderson Lansana felt inspired by the Radical Inclusion idea and vision so decided to mobilize people, teachers, parents, peers and students.

“Moyamba District schools, over these couple of days, had a great opportunity to engage the policy of radical inclusion as a lens to conceptualize president Bio’s Big 5 game changer. What we experienced was a watershed moment in student youth engagement and deliberations. The depth of interaction with the policy and the game changer pillars allowed for the interaction of citizens, policy and government. Moyamba district was well served through this activity where a significant number of schools across the district were fully represented and meaningfully participated. We left Moyamba yesterday, very hopeful about student and youth engagement with government and public policy,” according to the Coordinator for Global Partnership for Education at the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Mr Emmanuel Allie.

According to Mr Mustapha Wai, Chief Policy Adviser in the Office of the Chief Minister and doubled as the Chief Judge in the debate competition, this event will be replicated in every district in the country, noting that the rationale is getting the folks to properly understand the presidential delivery agenda.