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PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Downloading of material in response to the needs of teachers and
pupils continued and there was a concentration on the
customisation of suitable materials in support of teaching for
the West African School Certificate in three subjects –
Mathematics, Biology and Literature. A booklet consisting of
helpful material on these subjects is being compiled by three
experienced teachers/lecturers who are also examiners for the
West African School Certificate Examination. This material will
be offered through the Conference of Principals of Secondary
Schools to all schools in the country who request them along
with a questionnaire to get the reactions and suggestions of
teachers. (It has since handed to the Principals of selected
schools). Three Workshops were mainly devoted to this exercise
which represents a significant advance. Supplementary material
in the form of glossaries and other compilations will also be
offered to interested schools.
APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT COORDINATOR
Mr. Victor Janjue-Browne who was appointed Project Coordinator
to replace Ms Olivia Johnson has proved highly satisfactory.
FUND RAISING
The expected grant from the Ministry of Education has not yet
been paid but is still promised. (A grant of Le8m. has since
been paid)
The Gates/UNDP Davos announcement which was followed up proved
disappointing as the targeted countries did not include Sierra
Leone.
After the successful Fund Raising efforts of last year, there
has been little income in cash but generous donations in kind
have enabled Knowledge Aid Sierra Leone to make significant
savings.
The Rotary Club of Freetown donated tables, chairs, filing
cabinets and cupboards for the Resource Centre which is now
fully furnished.
Members of the Technical Team voluntarily declined fifty percent
of their incentive payments.
Fourah Bay College has generously offered to share a generator
with the Resource Centre thus saving us the capital expenditure,
provided KASL contributes to its running costs.
The College has also waived electricity charges in the Resource
Centre.
Centre Managers whose equipment is not operational mainly
because of irregular electricity supply and breakdown in
telephone connection, can now use the Resource Centre for their
normal activities.
ACCOUNTS
A detailed account for the periods of January - December 31st
2003 and January – August 2004 has been sent separately. The
balance as at August 2004 is Le39 496 168.90 which includes
Le.20 068 530.00 intended for the purchase of a suitable
vehicle. (The vehicle has since been purchased). Because of
our local fund raising activities, it has not been necessary for
KAUK to make regular periodic remittances but these may have to
be resumed.
WEBSITE
The Technical Team and Sierratel have now solved the problems of
the website which is expected to become operational soon.
GENERAL
Bo Government School, the leading school in the Provinces, has
been invited to join the project and it is hoped that this will
offer a springboard into the rest of the country.
The country continues to suffer from inadequate and unreliable
electricity and telephone services and KASL has survived through
the ingenuity and dedication of Centre Managers, the Technical
Team and the new Project Coordinator.
Centre Managers have been invited to use the Resource Centre
when they cannot operate their own machines.
Professor Asher Cashdan’s valuable advice gave Knowledge Aid its
direction and his absence and friendly counsel will be very much
misses.
We are also grateful to Mrs. Marjorie Jones who has done
everything from making curtains for the Resource Centre,
providing refreshments for meetings and workshops and typing
letters and publicity material at no service charge.
Fourah Bay College, British Council and the Ministry of
Education have continued to give valuable support to the
project.
Knowledge Aid would not have existed without the generous
support of Knowledge Aid UK and the dedication of its Board
members to the success of the project.
FUTURE ACTIVITIES
Knowledge Aid Sierra Leone will continue to respond to the needs
of teachers through the Centre Managers and the Resource Centre
and coverage will extend to more areas of the school curriculum.
Work will continue on the building of the library of download
useful material at the Resource Centre.
If funds are available, training of teachers to access useful
websites would be extended and computers would be provided for
schools which need them.
When the website becomes operational, attention will be given to
generating material to feed into the international highway.
Eldred Jones
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