By Amin Kef (Ranger)
Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, delivered inspiring remarks at two Freetown-based institutions, Modern Elementary Primary School and St. Joseph’s Primary School during ceremonies marking the presentation of digital learning kits donated by the Orange Foundation under its nationwide Digital Learning Initiative.
The Vice President clarified that the donation was made by the Orange Foundation, which had invited him to nominate two schools, one public and one private to benefit from the initiative that complements the Government of Sierra Leone’s Free Quality Education programme.
At Modern Elementary Primary School, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh described the occasion as a significant milestone in the school’s journey. He praised the proprietress, Mrs. Ellen Keili, for her exemplary leadership and dedication over three decades, noting that the school’s consistent record of academic excellence and commitment to nurturing young learners influenced his choice. “When the Orange Foundation asked me to select two schools to benefit from their digital learning initiative, I chose Modern Elementary because of its inspiring journey, the commitment of its teachers, and the extraordinary efforts of its proprietors,” he stated.
He emphasized that the initiative aligns with the vision of His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, who has placed education at the heart of his administration’s Human Capital Development agenda. “As a Government, we believe education is the most powerful pathway to development. When we invest in human capital, we invest in the prosperity of our country and our people,” he affirmed.
The Vice President extended gratitude to the Chief Executive Officer and management of the Orange Foundation for their continued partnership with Government in promoting digital inclusion in schools nationwide. As part of his personal gesture, he presented two iPads to the best-performing pupils—one boy and one girl—and urged them to use the devices responsibly for educational purposes. His remarks were met with laughter and applause as he humorously reminded pupils that “these devices are meant for learning, not entertainment.”
He also distributed chocolates as an early Christmas gift and pledged both his personal and official commitment to support digital learning at Modern Elementary in the coming year.
Later in the day, Dr. Jalloh visited St. Joseph’s Primary School, where he delivered another heartfelt address celebrating the institution’s rich legacy of excellence. He explained that his decision to select St. Joseph’s stemmed from its long and distinguished history of service to education and nation-building. “When I was given the opportunity to select two schools to benefit from this important donation of digital learning equipment, I had no hesitation in nominating St. Joseph’s Primary School. I chose your school because of its long and distinguished history — a journey defined by decades of service, dedication, and the countless children you have educated and inspired across this nation,” he said.
The Vice President commended the school’s leadership and staff for their enduring contribution to shaping generations of Sierra Leonean children. He reiterated Government’s unwavering commitment to strengthening the education sector, stressing that digital learning is now a necessity in today’s world. “Through partnerships like this one with Orange Sierra Leone, we are integrating technology into learning and preparing our children for the demands of the modern world,” he added.
Dr. Jalloh also commended the Orange Foundation for supporting 39 schools nationwide and announced that 15 more institutions will soon benefit from the initiative. As a gesture of encouragement, he presented two iPads to the top-performing pupils of St. Joseph’s Primary School, urging them to embrace digital tools for academic growth. “Let me encourage you to make good use of these digital tools. They are meant to enhance your learning experience, broaden your knowledge, and help you embrace the digital age with confidence,” he advised.
He described St. Joseph’s as a school close to his heart, situated near his office, and promised to continue supporting it whenever opportunities arise. “This school is very dear to me; it is located just a few hundred meters from my office, and I consider you my neighbors. Because of that closeness, you can be assured that I will continue to think of St. Joseph’s whenever opportunities for educational support arise,” he said warmly.
Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh concluded by reaffirming his support to both schools and the broader educational vision of President Bio, pledging that the Government will continue to advance digital learning as part of its national transformation agenda.
The ceremonies were attended by Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Mr. Conrad Sackey, and Director General of the Orange Foundation, Mrs. Annie Wonnie-Katta, both of whom praised the Vice President’s leadership and commitment to education.
The events were widely lauded as vivid demonstrations of the productive partnership between Government and the private sector in building a digitally empowered generation of Sierra Leonean learners.
