Freetown — The Wellington female training centre, situated at the east end of Freetown is facing problems for materials to carry out the needs of the students.

In an interview with the coordinator, Benjamin Boinoi Bangura said the training centre is presently incapacitated in terms of class rooms and staff enrolment. "I am appealing to government and NGOs to come to our aid".

He revealed that the institution started in 1999 with only twenty students but the institution can now boast three hundred and fifteen students training in various skills at the centre.

Bangura said the centre was geared towards providing vocational skills for less fortunate female youths and men in the community so that they would self reliant. The centre graduates over three hundred students.

"There is always a star prize for the best students at the end of every year," Bangura said.

Bangura told Concord Times that the government of Sierra Leone is presently paying the salary of only six lecturers out of all the staff at the centre. "The revenue we collect can not suffice in catering for the other staff members".

He said the institution recently benefited five hundred British pounds from friends in the UK to purchase bags of rice for distribution among the staff members.

Shadrack Ahmed Kargbo, a Christian education tutor in charge of discipline, said the entire work of the centre is a non profitable one. He noted that the centre has helped so many youths within the community.

Makalay Buya Kamara a hair dressing tutor said she has served the centre for five years. "When I started teaching, there were only twenty students but the hair dressing department now has one hundred and twenty students".

Mariama Fofana a final year student said teachers are doing their best, adding that "most of us do not have the required materials for practical work".