UNESCO Lauds Information Minister’s Civic Education Plan
By Ishmael Bayoh
The Regional Director of UNESCO in Dakar, Dr. Dimitri Sanga, has expressed commitment to support Sierra Leone’s Civic Education drive. He committed on Thursday, October 19th, 2023, when the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Hon. Chernor Bah, made a courtesy visit.
The Information Minister explained the importance of civic education in Sierra Leone and how his ministry intends to institutionalize it and build partnerships with organizations. A former activist on education in the UN and with UNESCO, and now with his new role, Minister Chernor Bah is using that experience to build relationships. Explaining how he could institutionalize civic education, he said, “If we start small, it shall never be defined as such. My ambition is to start big” In driving national consciousness towards good governance, he emphasized civic education in health, education, and now agriculture, the flagship priority of President Julius Maada Bio.
“My Ministry is trying to convene a national conversation on Sierra Leone’s Civics, where we will define strategies to institutionalize it,” he stated.
The UNESCO Managing Director, Dr. Dimitri Sanga, agreed with the Information Minister on thinking big about civic education. “What you are trying to do by thinking big about civic education is good. We will tap into it and support it.”
The UNESCO boss drew experiences from the pandemic and the rising conflicts within the African region, and how the importance of civics should play to prevent threats of violence. He further assured the Minister that “the Coordination office on SDG4 can work with your ministry on how to come out with contents,” he said.
The programme specialist, Yoshie Kaga, outlined the various educational activities on the road map to civic education; from drawing up curriculum for schools and teachers to communication and science and nurturing global citizenship.
She explained that teams have been set up to deal with member states and that by next year, they will be holding a regional consultation on combating hate speech through education.
The Senior Project Officer of UNESCO, Xavier Hospital, praised Sierra Leone’s public education on sexual and reproductive health, adding that it would be good to build a two-way partnership. He assured that they will start work with the Ministry of Information and that Sierra Leone will be invited to their regional activities.
