The Vision Thing
OAKS Primary school opened for 100 kids from deprived backgrounds in October 2007.
Since then we’ve slowly expanded. Class 6 and Sierra Leone’s equivalent of 11+ (NPSE) has proved so successful, six years of 100% pass rate!! We decided to venture into Junior Secondary – the equivalent of Years 7, 8 & 9.
May 2014. Footings for a new classroom and storeroom.
New classroom extension 2013.
We built an extra classroom in 2013, followed by another ready for September 2014. Unfortunately, due to Ebola, this classroom remained empty until April 2015.
Our first 30 pupils in JSS3 (Year 9), 12 boys & 18 girls will sit their BECE (Basic Education Certificate Exam) in June. This in many ways is like our GCSE. They have 4 compulsory core subjects, Maths, English, Science and Social Studies, plus 4 option subjects.
Junior Secondary 3. Class tutor in blue, Patrick Goba.
If successful they can then apply to Senior Secondary School (SSS). SSS is a 4 year course culminating in examinations roughly equivalent to ‘A’ levels.
Today we have 380 pupils on roll. Our area has grown so much parents are desperate to get their children into OAKS. We have good exam results and are noted for a high standard of education.
It naturally follows we should be looking to provide the next tier of education OAKS Senior Secondary School. We have a 3 acre plot, known locally as ‘The 24 Town Lots’, it’s about a 15 minute walk from the original site.
Land for development? It used to be isolated but now surrounded by more & more housing
The area will be surveyed on Nic’s next trip in June, it is an undulating piece of land with a lot of potential.
We are avidly looking for sponsors and matched funding to build a new school facility and to staff it with enthusiastic and qualified teachers.
Please contact us if you are interested in helping us to develop and to provide more quality education in a very poor area of Sierra Leone, West Africa.
