Students Champion Human Capital Development
By John Kelly Marah
Magburaka, Tonkolili District – In a vibrant display of intellect and civic awareness, ten Junior and Senior Secondary schools in Magburaka have locked horns in a highly competitive quiz and debate competition, organized by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education as part of its Civic Day Series on October 27, 2025.
The participating schools included Benevolent Islamic Secondary School, St. Joseph’s Secondary School Magburaka, Government Secondary School for Boys, Government Secondary School for Girls – Mathora, SLMB Secondary School, Missionary Church of Africa (MCA) Magburaka, Pampana High School, Light of Islam, St. Thomas School, and National Commercial Secondary School.
The Resident Minister North-East, Hon. Ibrahim Jalloh, lauded the Civic Day Series as a key pillar of President Bio’s vision to bring government closer to the people. He emphasized that such civic engagements are crucial in empowering students to understand their rights, responsibilities, and the importance of national history.
“Education is the master key to unlocking human growth and progress,” Minister Jalloh reminded the students, encouraging them to study diligently and make their parents proud.
The quiz segment, moderated by Marian Magdalene Bangura and Timothy Sam, tested students’ knowledge on civic education, national history, and local governance.
After two intense rounds, Rashid Barrie of the Missionary Church of Africa (MCA) emerged as the overall winner with 16 points, while Foday Sesay of St. Thomas School followed closely with 9 points.
The debate competition brought even more excitement, as students tackled thought-provoking topics such as “Technology has caused more harm than good to students,” “Corruption in school administration is a major barrier to quality education in Sierra Leone,” and “Should citizens’ participation in the National Population and Housing Census be mandatory?”
At the end of the keen contest, Amidu Bangura of Benevolent Islamic Secondary School clinched first place with 18 points, narrowly edging out Ibrahim David Yateh, who secured 17 points to take second position.
Winners and runners-up received customized Civic Day Series school bags, exercise books, and cash prizes — a reflection of the government’s sustained investment in nurturing human capital and civic responsibility among the nation’s youth. The Civic Day Series continues.
