The Head of the Chemistry Department at Fourah Bay College Dr. Dalton Faulkner has told the Professor Gbamanja Commission of Enquiry that insufficient funds for the educational sector, is responsible for the poor standard of education in the country'.
He spoke on Friday while appearing before the Commission, which is investigating the factors responsible for the poor performance of students at public examinations and other related problems.He said the funds allocated to education in the national budget in the previous years were not enough, but noting that in 2009 the allocation was adequate; although more needed to be done. Dr. Faulkner said premium was given to education, especially the periods before and just after independence, but not in the recent past. Dr. Faulkner said that the 6334 system was not the problem in the educational sector, but what is faulty was the implementation of the system. He said the two-school system had resulted in the reduction of the contact time for classes. Dr. Faulkner blamed what he called the double management systems in the schools and governance structures. A former head teacher, Ibrahim Augustine Kamara Kargbo also appeared before the commission. He also emphasized the lack of funding to the educational sector as a major problem. He said it would be adequate for twenty percent of the national budget to be allocated to the educational sector. Another problem mentioned by Mr. Kamara-Kargbo is the failure of most schools to complete the syllabus. The commission continues on Monday next week.
