The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education has recognised three of its most dedicated and innovative administrative support staff members for their commitment, efficiency and effectiveness exhibited throughout the year 2021.

Precious gifts from the Minister – Dr. David Moinina Sengeh were presented to these officials honoured as distinguished staff members of the Ministry, and the gifts was presented on behalf of the Minister by the Deputy Director of Human Resource in the Ministry, Bernadette Amara. The laudable and special occasion where the Minister’s gifts were presented to the deserving officials, took place at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Freetown.

Speaking at the occasion, the Deputy Director of Human Resource revealed that the recognition of distinguished staff members is part of the Minister’s initiative and effort in appreciating sacrifices of the staff members in ensuring that the Ministry accomplishes its priorities and goals set for the year 2021, a year the Minister termed as “The Year of Accelerated Delivery”.

The honoured and recognised staff members are Senior Office Assistant, attached to the office of the Chief Education Officer Pa Tejan Kamara. Office Assistant attached to the Office of the Senior Permanent Secretary, Abdul Raman Sankoh, and Office Assistant attached to the Ministry’s Human Resource Department, Francis Ngiawo.

The Senior Permanent Secretary of the Ministry David Banya revealed that he is gratified that the Ministry officials who are recognized for a job well done are administrative support staff members. He continued that these officials are pivotal to the smooth running of the Ministry.

He said the move by the Minister to recognise these distinguished staff members is essential to the continued successes of the Ministry in achieving its goals, noting that the gesture will inspire other staff members of the Ministry to be more committed to their office duties.

The Senior Permanent Secretary gave tribute to one of the staff members recognised, Pa. Tejan Kamara, who has been with the Ministry since 1988. SPS Banya revealed that the top management of the Ministry has reviewed the work ethics of Pa Tejan Kamara, and they realized that his work pattern has been consistent for the past 30 years of his service in the Ministry. The MBSSE Administrative Head said Pa. Kamara is always eager and happy to deliver his responsibilities. He added that the experienced Civil Servant has been a positive influence to other staff members of the Ministry. Therefore, he said as top management of the Ministry, they deem it necessary to recognise his contributions to the Ministry before he retires in August this year 2022.

One of the Distinguished Staff Members, Abdul Raman Sankoh said he feels blessed to receive the Minister’s gift in honor of his work in the Ministry. He attributed the recognition to the encouragement he gets regularly from his boss, the Senior Permanent Secretary, for the good job he does. He said his boss always keeps him happy in the office.

He said his greatest motivation to give in his best to the Ministry, is his belief in education being the only thing that will make Sierra Leone a developed country. Thus, he revealed that he feels privileged to be a staff of the Ministry of Education, an institution he described as the ultimate driver for effective education service delivery.

Similarly, Francis Ngiawo, who was also recognized, said even though the minister’s gesture has stirred-up his zeal and dedication to his duties in the Ministry, where his hardwork is being recognized for the first time, in his fifteen years of service.

He appreciated that he has grown considerably comparing to when he started work in the Ministry as a volunteer, in 2006, at the Non-formal Education Directorate. “Today I can boast of having knowledge in procurement processes and human resource management” Francis said, adding that he is particularly proud to be a staff of MBSSE, an institution he said is widely regarded as the best Ministry currently in the country, because of its expressed commitment to successfully implement the Free Quality School Education, which is the flagship program of the government.