Concord Times (Freetown)
Olusegun Ogundeji
9 July 2008
opinion
Of the noticeable British heritage left in the Sierra Leone of today, the one-time British West African administrative centre in the pre-colonial days, the prestigious Fourah Bay College (FBC) is still an institution to be reckoned with in Africa.
Beyond Sierra Leone, many people, especially Africans, still doff their hats for FBC graduates whenever they see one. It is a thing of pride for many Sierra Leoneans too to flaunt to the world over that they are the custodian of the first western-style university in West Africa.
The political maturity exhibited by many Sierra Leoneans of late has been linked to their educational grounding particularly as it has so much in common with the primitive but modest form of British politics. It is unclear if truly there is a nexus in this theory.
It is also yet to be proven beyond doubt the postulation that once FBC's prestige is drained as far as Africa's education is concerned, Sierra Leone would have nothing to show to the world as its major resource since dependence on diamond and other minerals can fail after its reserve must have been used up.
Now, poor remuneration and working environment which now tend to be statutory problems for teachers, not only in Sierra Leone, but in various parts of Africa, have started eating deep into the oldest university college in West Africa. These have to be addressed with utmost contemplation.
From the primary school level to tertiary institutions, teachers are fond of these two inflicted conditions. Perhaps that is why there is a higher influx of teachers going into setting up of private classes for extra earnings. Others opt for private learning institutions which will meet their financial expectation at least to a certain extent.
Though many of these teachers may not get employed by private schools because there is limited number of such institutions around and not every one of them would be capacitated to establish an after-class teaching centre, but where do these twin predicaments leave FBC as a respected institution which conferred exalted title of "Athens of Africa" on Freetown as a homage to the college?
It is obvious that FBC is the best institution of higher learning in the country today. It is also evident that since inception in 1857, many researches and findings have been conducted which has blessed this great country in numerous instances. Many intellects who now hold strategic positions in decision-making bodies in the Sierra Leone of today have also gone through this institution.
If at all they all care less about the structure, you will agree with me that political leaders from the president down to councilors, permanent secretaries to junior level civil servants, ministers, ambassadors, etc have all passed through the hands of teachers. But unfortunately, majority of them turned out be ingrates. They hardly look back to improve the welfare of the teachers that blessed their lives. Even those in government put less value on their service, yet people talk about a better Sierra Leone.
It's sad to say that teachers bear the brunt of it all. Apart from being poorly paid, teachers don't get to enjoy themselves even though they teach people how to enjoy life. That is why today, many teachers particularly those in public schools exhibit the lowest morale. (Remember, not all teachers fancy the idea of printing hand outs for students to make extra money.) Teachers' efforts are not commensurate with what they are earning. There used to be a saying in my setting that a teacher's reward is in heaven. I wonder why teachers have to wait that long to eat the fruits of their labour. Why is it not possible for teachers to be rewarded here and now? Going to heaven may take some time!
Whenever teachers cry for a better condition of service, contempt is thrown their way even though we profess that teachers are human beings with needs and wants. So teachers must get more and more abject by the day thus discouraging future teachers for their passion to do what they like doing most? In fact, a minute figure of people will beat their chests to choose teaching as a profession today because little value is attached to academic work. Girls too, don't like to marry teachers.
Yet, if we are to go by the rudiments of the significance of knowledge impartation, teachers deserve the highest pay in any given environment. But that fact has been acceptably neglected. It is not even an issue to be raised among groups for discussion.
My submission is that notwithstanding, there should be a modicum of incentive for teachers say for tomorrow's sake. How will a teacher earning about Le 300,000 or less think straight in these 'global' days? Teachers are not slaves working in plantations. They should live well to teach well!
The mere fact that many successful leaders went through teachers at one point in time indicates that teaching is not a curse but a noble profession and a tertiary economic activity.
Let's forget about the axiom we all bellow here and there that education is the best legacy parents can bequeath to their children, it goes far beyond than that. For Sierra Leone to make any meaningful progress, education as a means of human resource development should be given utmost attention. Teachers should be well- paid.
The attitude of policy makers towards the material welfare of teachers which some say is derivative of an ancient Greek tradition where, before the establishment of formal schools, education was considered so invaluable that it could not be exchanged for money, should change.
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