The National Council for Civic Education and Democracy over the years has had fruitful partnership with Statistics Sierra Leone in popularizing the national mid-term census and its importance to Sierra Leoneans as their civic duty. It is against this backdrop that the new Chairman of NaCCED, Mr. Joseph Munda Bindi has paid a courtesy call on the Statistician General of Sierra Leone, Mr. Andrew Bob Johnny.
In his opening address, the Chairman of NaCCED expressed appreciation to the Statistician General for his unwavering support to the work of NaCCED. Chairman Bindi sighted out that the importance of census goes way beyond just the counting of citizens but rather censuses are a means to get valid and credible data on the status and number of schools, hospitals and livelihood of people in a given locality. National census data cannot only inform electoral processes but it is a vital development tool used for planning and informed decision making.
Responding to The Chairman, The Statistician General expressed delight on the work of NaCCED during the last conducted midterm census as the institution was able to depoliticize the narrative of census adding that he wishes to continue such fruitful collaboration in the near future.
Mr. Andrew Bob Johnny also mentioned that a further look into an MOU that was signed by Statistics Sierra Leone and the National Council for Civic Education and Democracy should be revised for strengthening healthy and effective partnership relationships.
Mr. Andrew Bob Johnny further mentioned that the low literacy level across the country makes emphasis on the need for better civic education at all levels.
He described the work of NaCCED as the forerunner in the development process in Sierra Leone. He noted that the early engagement of citizens by NaCCED is the pathway for successful outcome of future census to be conducted.
In another development, Chairman Bindi and team has also met with Madam Florence Robert who is the Education Safety Officer at the United Nations Children Education Fund as part of his familiarization tour to NaCCED’s trusted partners.
In his address the Chairman emphasized on the need for effective collaboration of partners in education to eradicate issues of duplication of efforts and prudently use scarce resources for the benefit of school children in the teaching and learning of civics.
Mr. Bindi mentioned the efforts of the Teaching Service Commission and the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education on their input towards enhancing the teaching of Civics as a subject in schools. Mr. Bindi also expressed the urgency for the inclusion of private schools in adopting civic education into their curriculum as every child should be civic conscious.
Director of Curriculum Development at the National Council for Civic Education and Democracy, Mr. Alphan Tajawie stated the support from the Teaching Service Commission in setting up of the Teacher Code of Conduct. Mr. Tajawie expressed willingness of all partners in education to work in the interest of children.
Madam Florence Robert, Education Safety Officer at UNICEF expressed satisfaction to meet a cross section of staff of NaCCED and pledged commitment to work in future endeavors.
She emphasized the interest of UNICEF in children and youths and that she looked toward the harmonization of programs in the education sector for the benefit of children. She concluded by requesting that NaCCED share with her office copies of the Civic Education Curriculum and the report on the assessment of teaching civics in schools in Sierra Leone.
