By Sahr Ibrahim Komba
WATERLOO, March 19, (SALONE TIMES) – Mayena Village (6 mile) alleged that one Tejan Cole demolished a newly constructed secondary school constructed by Eye for Salone in 6-Mile community. The community people said that the head of the demolition said that they were instructed by High Court to carry out this exercise.
Flemish Secondary School was constructed by one Eye for Salone in partnership with Educado a student union of Free University (VUB) in Brussels, Belgium.
Eye for Salone is a humanitarian organization based in Freetown which has been operating in Sierra Leone for over fifteen years.
The organization has constructed schools in Freetown, Kenema, Bo, Kono and other parts of the country.
The organization has also helped some blind schools with teaching and learning materials, solar panel, clothing etc.
In an interview with Mohamed Sankoh the coordinator of Eye for Salone said that in 2013 the 6-Mile community wrote Eye for Salone requesting for the construct of a secondary school but his organization did not pay attention to the letter.
The community headman and other stakeholders wrote Eye for Salone a second time requesting the construction of secondary school in the 6-Mile community.
”It was after the second letter we formally accepted to build a secondary school in the community” he said.
The 6-Mile community then offered two hectares of land for the construction of the said school. We demarcated the land and developed a local paper. Eye for Salone built the school in partnership with Educado a student of Free University in Brussels Belgium (VUB).
Mr. Sankoh said that they installed solar panel which was provided by Tractebel an international company with Belgian root.
Tractebel does provide worldwide life-circle consultancy and engineering in power nuclear gas, industry and infrastructure.
He also added that his organization was in preparation to formally open the school when they heard that one Tejan Cole had demolished all the structures including the school and that this happen without notifying the organization.
Abdul Swaray a community member said the demolition of the said school has deprived children of the community from accessing education.
”The community people consider this act as a discrimination in education because the government is implementing free quality education which the community people welcome” he said.
He further added that free quality education can also be considered an inclusive education which means education for all.
He confirmed that some members of the community were in court with one Tejan Cole who alleged that he owned over thirty hectares of land in 6-mile community.
The community cried to Eye for Salone for the construction of secondary school in the community.
Mohamed Jalloh the Public Relation officer of Eye for Salone said that the organization spent millions of leones in constructing the school.
Mr. Jalloh said they have made a formal complaint to Ministry of foreign affairs and international corporation and the Criminal Investigation Department about the demolition of the school but they are yet to hear from government authorities.
