Social Evolution

The Educational System
Education in SL is complex. Even though it's an independent country it still adopts the principles of an education based on colonialist expectations.

According to history, SL had the first University in West Africa. A colonial style of education is fine, but the foremost consideration should be the present needs and affordability. Therefore the following questions should be asked:

1. Can the society afford it?
2. Is the society prepared to find alternatives to the colonial style?
3. Will the education provided be appropriate for the likely needs of the culture and a suitable investment for the future?
4. Does the education consider management of resources available, basic amenities such as a water supply, infrastructure, electricity, basic human dignity, common agreement and national heritage.

Since the recent Ebola outbreak, schools & educational systems have been at a  stand still. The rebel war lasted for more then 3 decades and left uneducated and unmotivated people. This left the entire nation of SL and its people very vulnerable to many things, remembering that much of the population has moved to the capital, away from rural areas. As a consequence, some of the problems:

• Sanitation standards have deteriorated beyond control
• A basic water supply is not provided
• Poor living conditions are common
• Accommodation is short and overcrowded
• Poor education for children / a decline in human morality
• A breakdown in family units and societal cohesion
• Old traditions dying out
• Traditional skills (farming and basic survival skills) being lost
• The demise of 'secret societies' which are groups peculiar to the culture and which typically separate along gender lines. These may not be fully compatible with a current western political view.
• The roles of men / women and what might be seen as the subjugation of women and a male dominated culture at times

The effects of the war on women and children
In times of war it is typical that the most vulnerable people will be affected most. During the war, women were treated indecently, often killed or adopted beyond their wish and this has left psychological and emotional distress. Some of whom where forced to have children for the rebels. The suffering of women has been incomprehensible and their natural roles and confidence has been severely undermined. This injustice needs to be addressed in the immediate and long term.

Children have been orphaned, their education and upbringing affected. Some children were manipulated into child soldiers. Many children witnessed death of their of parents and became traumatised, others were adopted by rebels to serve them and do monstrous things and trained to be killers, under influence of drugs, made to have sex with their parents. Many traumatised orphans have thus gravitated to Freetown because their original homes are lost. Being away from their original surroundings has alleviating some of the past trauma.

The effects of the war on men
Many mature men and late adolescent males were killed by the rebels for refusing to join them, male boys might be more easily 'adopted' into the rebel culture. The 'elders' in a village would be killed or left to die. This had led to a 'shortage' of men. Those who survived the war are incapable of making family ties because of their difficult past experiences. They lack / loose skills, education and have a poor outlook on life. Most of the survivors cannot be rehabilitated or get back to some 'former life', they have no incentive. State benefits are low and are not enough to survive on, men loose their status and their direction and are often reduced to wandering around.

Living on foreign aid is a sad situation. Now that Ebola has appeared, people haven't had time and opportunity to prepare themselves for its consequences. In a previous time, the elders would be a source of courage, inspiration and teach the cultural and basic survival traditional skills to younger men. The international communities have failed and misunderstood the things needed by Sierra Leone and Sierra Leoneans.

Much wealth in the form of diamonds were taken during the war, and no accountability for where the diamonds went. This is a great loss for the country, and could have assisted in the development of SL and less reliance on foreign aid. This foreign aid is not always free and remains a perpetual debt to future generations. This natural wealth is the country's heritage. Immediate attention and international help is required to help trace the theft of these assets.

Looting of property took place during the war and now appear in various  museums around the world. This should be reunited to its rightful owners.
It is the responsibility of the International Community to restore booty to its rightful owners, and help stability.

Education ! Education !
Is of vital importance and has being neglected over the years, probably because of the instability in the region. I am convinced  education will benefit SL immensely. Basic life skills must be thought  to all children. Children are our next generation of leaders. In that capacity they deserve to be equip for their role. There are many skills needed to equip children for life, along with academic knowledge. These include electrical, plumbing, farming and agricultural, livestock rearing, transport, construction, culture and integration, welfare and management.

The reopening of Educational institutions- in SL (20/2/2015)

Until now, no one  has asked the question about reopening  of  schools, colleges and  universities  how long is this going to last. The fear is that children/People who happened to fall in this class are missing out.  

Unemployment / employment opportunities
Unemployment is a severe problem. Surprisingly more then 90% of the  Sierra Leone population, are unemployed. Before the out break of Ebola, Healthcare workers went on strike because of months of overdue wages, which compounded to the escalation of Ebola.

A root cause of corruption is that teachers, government employees, police, military together with other main stream services  can go without pay for 3 or 4 months. People feel that their basic needs have not been met or been ignored, Consequently, there is a measure of desperation in the region. The backlog of payments could cost the Government Billions.