Reflections of "Our First"

The sound of a bell is the most anticipated sound for every class six pupil in an examination hall. It signals the start of an exam.

Smartly dressed and anxiously ready was the look for many as the long awaited day was finally here. The planning, the long nights and many preparations was all in readiness for today. Parents stood on the fences of schools cheering their kids on and taking advantage of every given opportunity to give that one last advice: "I’m proud of you, don’t panic, read the questions well, relax, be conscious of time, shade well", and if the odds were still in their favour, they would indulge in another hug and another “good luck” whisper. All this, just to ensure their children make them proud, because again, beyond the children, parents are equally vested. This exams is theirs too.

So imagine, what it could be for the Minister who is responsible to ensure that today was successful. Imagine what his night before today felt like, especially when this was not just any exams but his first and in the middle of a pandemic.

Amidst the critics echoing of what could go wrong, he had made the ultimate decision- although through extensive consultations with colleague government officials and education partners- to reopen schools for examination classes in Sierra Leone on July 1, 2020.

That morning, everyone had an opinion. As people questioned his decision, I saw a man being judged on his reasoning. Yes, he risked the possibility of not getting it right. He risked giving the naysayers a pass. I felt the weight of the decision. 

Yet, he made the choice to do it. To do it anyway, because who else will if not him. As weeks went by after such decisions to reopen schools, it became obvious to me, as his Executive Assistant that this was going to happen, anyway. That the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education was going to support WAEC and see to it that exams were held.

While that conviction took the most of me, it brought me closer to understanding my boss and his values. How his rationale to things might most often not be the same as many, but one thing that is peculiar to him, is his attention to detail. The power of his mind and his frame of thought. Above all, his desire to do right and transform education in Sierra Leone.

Hon. Minister Dr. Sengeh along with a team of forward thinking staff achieved his first public exams as Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education in Sierra Leone. He battled his own consciousness and took the skepticism of critics to challenge his staff in doing more and better. He took the fear of parents to channel more empathy within every staff at MBSSE to plan better. He took the pessimism of many to motivate WAEC in believing that they can conduct a credible examination. 

Today, while we pause to celebrate this accomplishment, and while others would rather concentrate on the mishaps, I invite us all “To begin”.

To Begin doing things differently.

To Begin owning Sierra Leone.

To Begin to practice patriotism.

To Begin to care.

To Begin to be more involved.

To Begin to try and really just “Begin to do it”.

Do it anyway, because if you don’t, it won’t change for the better by just exposing the lapses.

And yes, I do see it too. Among the student heroes and heroines who attempted the exams today was a young girl who couldn’t complete her exams because she was sick (not COVID related).

As I watched her struggle to defy the odds and do the impossible, myself, together with staff officials of her exams centre did all we could to make her convenient and have her take the exams. She tried, she sure did. I saw a young girl push herself beyond her limit and while it would have meant so much to us all to have her take the exams. She couldn’t!!!

She had to be rushed back to the hospital. Right there, she had to give in to fate, to birth hope to doing this again next year.

Right there, I imagined what our “could have been” and how differently this could have turned out. That chance is what, doing things for the first time gives you. An opportunity to learn, to do it better than the first.

So yes, today was a success. 

A success for the students who took part

A success for the parents who against all odds trusted the system

A success for MBSSE, WAEC and other stakeholders

A success we will reflect on as we intentionally document our mistakes, in a bid to doing better in subsequent years as we continue our quest to improve and transform Sierra Leone’s educational system.