Freetown — UNICEF in collaboration with the ministry of education, youth and sports Saturday awarded over 300 school girls on the theme 'educate the girl child for a better of life.

Patrick Bankole Brown told award ceremony at the Miatta Conference Hall in Freetown that there was need to improve on the girl child education in Sierra Leone, a move he said was very important for the wellbeing of the country.

"Education facilitates development in a dynamic and positive way that will help Sierra Leone," Brown said, adding that the awards were both for secondary and primary school pupils.

The awardees received Le 30,000 cash, books, pencils, pens, and dictionaries. "We hope these awards will motivate the children to work hard next academic year."

Permanent secretary in the ministry of education, youth and sports Sheku Ahmed Tejan said the aim of the award was to motivate pupils for their excellent performance in various subjects.

"We aim at gingering up school going girls for excellence in their various schools. It is also a means of promoting girl child education which is a human right."

Tejan said women have suffered discrimination in the past.

"Women have suffered molestation and sexual violence in their homes," he said noting that his ministry covers all the schools in the country and was keen to ensuring access to education for all children.

"My ministry is working hard in order to see that education is expanded," he said.

UNICEF representative Geert Cappelaere said the purpose of his organization in Sierra Leone was to promote education for the development of the country. He said "children are the leaders of tomorrow so we need to help them".

Cappelaere said that UNICEF was also working in collaboration with the government and other organizations to boost the country's educational sector.