Freetown — President Ernest Bai Koroma has conceded that Sierra Leone's once proud reputation as a beacon of quality education is under serious threat.

The president, who was speaking at the State Opening of the Third Session of the Third Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone in the Chamber of Parliament, Tower Hill in Freetown on Friday, said the economy and the nation can never be improved without a sound education.

"Knowledge improves the content of our character, enhances the quality of our production, and ensures the advance of our democracy. However, our country's once proud reputation as a beacon of quality education is under serious threat," he said.

The president blamed dwindling resources and the effects of a war that decimated an older generation of experienced and disciplined teachers from passing on practical skills to new recruits in the teaching field as some of the reasons for the educational collapse.

Tackling these challenges, he said, will require a concerted partnership between government, teachers, parents and other stakeholders. "Together, we must rebuild the schooling infrastructure, improve the quality of teaching and learning, and strengthen the links between education and employment," he noted.

President Koroma disclosed that his government has secured funding to construct over 70 schools as a way of rebuilding the schooling infrastructure, adding that the construction of schools through the Sababu project has also been accelerated.

To improve the quality of teaching and learning, the president said a commission of inquiry has been established to examine and recommend actions to address the poor performance of primary and secondary school children.

He informed parliamentarians that 19 council schools have received teaching and learning materials, and that there was a proposed plan to build four community colleges.

He said automatic grant-in-aid would be awarded to female students offering mathematics and engineering as a way of empowering them.

The president conceded that his government faces serious challenges in actualizing its 'agenda for change' initiative. He said greed and recklessness amongst some bankers in the developing world had put the economy in distress.

He also spoke about the increase spate of armed robbery in the country, while further stating his administration's determination in ensuring that government programmes benefit the common man and woman in every district and region.

President Koroma gave a rundown of his government's achievement in areas such as energy, infrastructure and agriculture. He said government has secured tractors and motorbikes on credit from the Indian government, promising to ensure that every chiefdom has a chiefdom farm.