The Sierra Leone Teachers Union Quadrennial Delegates Conference At Atlantic Hall, National Stadium, Freetown On 7th August, 2009 

 Courtesies

I am delighted to be with representatives of teachers from all over the country and to officially open the
Fourth National Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the Sierra Leone Teachers Union. 
Let me sincerely congratulate the teachers of this country for the keeping the torch of knowledge burning
in these difficult times of a world wide recession.

I come from a family of teachers. I know first hand the immense sacrifices teachers make to pass on to the
younger generation the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes that this country needs to secure its future.
Without knowledge, a country  is doomed; without teachers, knowledge is impossible.

It is that belief in the value of education, and in the role of teachers in ensuring socio-economic transformation
and attitudinal change that brings me hear today.

Mr. Chairman, my distinguished teachers, let us state it plainly, our country’s once enviable reputation as a
bastion of education is under a grave and mortal threat. The reasons are many: from dwindling resources,
to the effects of a war that decimated an older generation of experienced and disciplined teachers and
prevented them from passing on hands-on practical skills to new recruits in the teaching field.

We may rightly blame dwindling resources today for the various challenges our education sector is going through.
The issue also is that there was a break in the transmission of commitment from the older to the new generation
of teachers. Whilst a majority of teachers are still committed to the profession, the number of the uncommitted
is large enough to tip the scales towards decline.

Mr. Chairman, my distinguished teachers, my call unto you today is for all of us to work together to halt the decline
and move this country again towards the enviable position it once held. A few months ago I set up a Commission
to evaluate the current 6-3-3-4 Education System to which the SLTU is represented.  Let me use this enviable
platform to request teachers’ maximum cooperation with this commission.

My government’s Agenda for Change lists education and health as priority social sectors.
We cannot achieve the socio-economic transformation envisaged in our Agenda of Change without the skills and
knowledge that teachers are charged with providing. Education is the greatest resource in the world today.
Without the necessary skills set, a country cannot properly utilize its other resources. Education creates wealth.
But it is education with the rights attitudes, discipline and commitment that transforms the lives of a people.

My government’s attitudinal change campaign is geared towards ensuring that we all have the right attitudes for
socio-economic transformation.

As a man from a family of teachers; I have an obligation to promote the interests of my parents’ profession.
As president of a country with a proud history over-achievers in field of education, it is my duty to ensure that
this country resuscitates that proud tradition.

Mr. Chairman, my distinguished teachers, we are dedicating ourselves to improving education in this country not only
because we want to meet targets set out in the Education for All by 2015. We are re-committing ourselves because it is
right course to take. This is my call to you, the people of this country sent us to school to resolve their problems and not to
compound them. Our people sent us to school with wonderful hopes for the future, let us rekindle that optimism.
 
We know there is a need for more resources in the education sector. That is why my government is putting in place
policies to grow our economy, attract investments and improve the revenue base of this country. We need however to
utilize the resources more prudently and prevent misappropriation of inputs into the sector.

The SLTU could help my government’s anti-corruption crusade by monitoring our inputs into schools and other
educational institutions. Help us send ghost teachers back to the cemeteries. 

I have signed performance contracts with my ministers to enhance their productivity. It my wish to let this initiative cascade
to all levels of our society. The SLTU, school administrators and teachers should be part of a performance tracking system
geared towards enhancing productivity.

I know we are not in this alone. We applaud the efforts of the international supporters of the teaching profession in this
country. But more importantly, I salute the ordinary teachers of the country; our future cannot be secure without your
continuing dedication.

Mr. Chairman, Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, it is now with delight that I formally declare the SLTU Fourth
National Quadrennial Delegate Conference open, and I wish you all success in your deliberations.

I thank you for attention.