The Government, in league with a local Non-governmental Organization called Actions Transforming Lives (ACTS), has dedicated a newly constructed school building, which cost over US$100,000.00, in Suakoko, Bong County.
The Suakoko Primary (Elementary) School, formerly Leprosy colony, was constructed and funded by several international NGOs, including Effect Hope, Map International, and Liquid IV, among others.
ACTS, which is working with NGOs based in the United States, has also constructed a pump for safe drinking water and pit latrines on the campus of the school, and at the same time, ACTS is also working with other international NGOs in Grand Bassa, and partnering with the Ministries of Health, Education, Gender Development, and Agriculture.
ACTS said it has been honored to partner with the community members of Suakoko for many years, to see the construction of this school, which will not only impact children directly, but also change the outcome of generations to come.
Deputy Minister of Education for Administration, Alexander Duopu, thanked ACTS for the tremendous efforts in constructing the school, and ensuring that the project becomes a reality.
He noted that the school project signifies the moral beginning in partnering with the government in providing quality education for the children.
Duopu stressed the need for community participation in maintaining the school facility, and ensuring proper learning for the children.
The Deputy Minister also reiterated the government’s commitment to implementing the compulsory education policy under the Education Ministry.
Handing over the school facility to Government, the chairperson of ACTS, Evelyn S. Kandakai, said she and her organization were gratified to identify with the government in building more learning facilities for Liberian children, especially the young girls.
The Education Ministry’s former minister in the erstwhile National Patriotic Party (NPP) Government of jailed Liberian President Charles Taylor, cautioned community dwellers to take ownership of the school facility.
Kandakai, who initiated several learning programs, including the each-one teach-one component under the Education Ministry program, and many others, and appealed to parents to send their girls children to school to learn, saying “when you educate a girl child, you have a better family.” Local chiefs and youths expressed gratitude to ACTS for the construction of a modern school building, and promised to help maintain the building and other facilities.
Also, local education officers promised to work with the school authority to ensure quality learning, and work along with local authorities in maintaining the buildings.
The six classroom building was constructed by a local construction company called the Triple W Corporation.
