NPRC DECREE N0.4 1994

DECREE Supplement to the Sierra Leone Gazette Vol. CXXV, No. 11 dated 3rd March, 1994 N.P.R.C. Decree No. 4 1994 Sierra Leone The National Commission for Basic Education Decree, 1994 [Margin: Short title.] Being a Decree to establish the National Commission for Basic Education throughout Sierra Leone and for related matters [3rd March, 1994] [Margin: Date of commencement.] PURSUANT to paragraph 3 of "The Administration of Sierra Leone (National Provisional Ruling Council) Proclamation, 1992" the National Provisional Ruling Council makes and issues the following Decree— No. 4 National Commission for Basic Education Decree 1994 3 (i) a representative of the Council of Churches in Sierra Leone to be nominated by that body; (j) a representative of the Supreme Islamic Council to be nominated by that body; (k) a representative of the Roman Catholic Mission in Sierra Leone to be nominated by that body; (l) a representative of the Sierra Leone Adult Education Association to be nominated by that body; (m) a representative of the Women's Bureau to be nominated by that body; (n) one representative each from the Departments responsible for National Development and Economic Planning; Agriculture and Natural Resources; Health and Social Services; Information and Broadcasting and Finance to be nominated by the Secretaries of State responsible for the respective Departments; (o) a representative of the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce to be nominated by that body; (p) a representative of the Sierra Leone Teachers Union to be nominated by that body; (q) a representative of the Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools to be nominated by that body; (r) a representative of the Sierra Leone Labour Congress to be nominated by that body; (s) a representative of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists to be nominated by that body; (t) a representative of the National Council for Children to be nominated by that body; (u) a representative of the Provincial Literature Bureau to be nominated by that body. (2) The following persons shall be in attendance— (a) the Principal Education Officer (Primary) of the Department of Education or his representative; (b) the Principal Education Officer (Secondary) of the Department of Education or his respresentative; (c) the Principal Education Officer (Teacher Education) of the Department of Education or his representative; (d) the Principal Education Officer (Technical and Science) of the Department of Education or his representative; 4 No. 4 National Commission for Basic Education Decree 1994 (e) the Senior Education Officer (Adult Education) of the Department of Education or his representative. [Margin: Tenure of Office of members of the Commission.]

(1) A person appointed as a member of the Commission shall hold office for a period of three years and shall be eligible for reappointment: Provided that ex-officio members shall hold office for as long as they hold the office by virtue of which they were appointed members of the Commission. (2) A person appointed as a member of the Commission, other than ex-officio members, may for just cause be removed from the Commission by the Secretary of State acting on the advice of the Chairman. [Margin: Duties and functions of the Commission.]

(a) advise on, promote and monitor the implementation of the Country Plan and related matters. (b) be responsible for the establishment of an organisational structure, supervision, monitoring and co-ordination of a programme for Basic Education throughout Sierra Leone. (c) in close collaboration with the Department of Education and other relevant Departments, advise the Government on ways and means of implementing and developing a programme for Basic Education and Adult Literacy in Sierra Leone so as to— (i) Sensitize the general public concerning the importance of Basic Education and Promote activities to achieve the objective of ensuring that eighty per centum of twelve-year old children pass a test of basic skills by the year two thousand; (ii) Promote Adult Literacy activities in order to eliminate adult illiteracy by the year two thousand and sustain the achievement thereafter; (iii) Control a Secretariat to carry on its day-to-day functions and implement policies worked out and approved by the Commission to facilitate its functions; (iv) Sustain the implementation of projects and ensure that they conform to criteria worked out by the Commission; No. 4 National Commission for Basic Education Decree 1994 5 (v) Prepare and commission projects for funding and mobilize funds from within Sierra Leone and from international bodies and donor agencies to carry out the functions of the Commission; (vi) Control and keep proper accounts of all monies granted to it and make proper returns to the Head of State through the Secretary of State, at least once every year, of all monies given to it; (vii) Keep proper audited accounts of all funds entrusted to it and spent by it. (2) The Commission shall, through the Secretary of State, report to the Head of State, on its plans, activities and progress. [Margin: Meetings of Commission.]

(2) All decisions at meetings of the Commission shall be determined by a simple majority of the votes of members present and where there is an equality of votes, the Chairman or person presiding shall have a casting vote. (3) The quorum of the Commission shall be fifteen and the proceedings of the Commission shall not be affected by any defect in the appointment of any member or by reason only that a person not entitled to do so took part in the proceedings. (4) The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Commission and in his absence, a member of the Commission appointed by the members present, shall preside. [Margin: Attendance at meeting in an advisory capacity.]

(1) The members of the Commission representing the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) National Commission, may attend meetings of the Committee, as advisers on the invitation of the Chairman but shall not have the right to vote. (2) The Chairman may invite senior members of the Department of Education to attend meetings of the Commission and the Committee as advisers and they shall have the right to speak but not to vote. [Margin: Secretary [illegible] the Commission.]

There shall be a Secretary to the Commission who shall be appointed by the Secretary of State, after consultation with the Chairman. 6 No. 4 National Commission for Basic Education Decree 1994 [Margin: The Executive Committee of Commission.]

The Commission shall have an Executive Committee which shall be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Commission and such matters as may be delegated to it by the Commission. [Margin: Composition of Executive Committee.]

(a) a Chairman, who shall be the Chairman of the Commission; (b) a member appointed to the Commission by virtue of paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 3; (c) three members from the Commission, to be elected by the Commission itself; (d) one Paramount Chief member of the Commission appointed by the Commission; (e) a member appointed to the Commission by virtue of paragraph (l) of subsection (1) of section 3. [Margin: Secretary of the Committee.]

[Margin: Commission's power to delegate.]

The Commission may delegate as much of its functions and duties to the Committee as it may consider necessary for giving effect to the purpose of this Decree and the Committee may co-opt members. [Margin: Establishment of a Secretariat.]

(2) The Secretariat shall consist of— (a) the Chairman; (b) the Secretary to the Commission; (c) a Public Relations Officer; (d) a Finance Officer; and (e) such other persons as may be approved by the Committee. No. 4 National Commission for Basic Education Decree 1994 7 [Margin: Funds of the Commission.]

(1) The Government shall from time to time provide such funds and properties to which the Commission may become lawfully entitled or as it may require for the carrying out of its functions. (2) The Commission may from time to time solicit other funds from recognised funding Agencies. [Margin: Power to make rules.]

The National Provisional Ruling Council may, after consultations with the Commission, make rules generally for the effective carrying out of the provisions and purposes of this Decree. MADE and ISSUED this 9th day of February, 1994. CAPTAIN VALENTINE E. M. STRASSER Chairman, National Provisional Ruling Council. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING DEPARTMENT, SIERRA LEONE—BY AUTHORITY OF THE NATIONAL PROVISIONAL RULING COUNCIL. GAZETTE No. 11 OF 3RD MARCH, 1994