By Lemuella Tarawallie
The Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Basic and Senior Secondary Education has commenced investigations into a dispute involving the Islamic Council Development and Humanitarian Services Mission (ICODOHS), the Hastings Wharf Community and stakeholders over the ownership, management and development of a school in the community.
The Committee, chaired by Hon. Rebecca Yei Sam, heard submissions from the founder of ICODOHS, Alhaji Abdul Karim, the Headman of Hastings Wharf, Alhaji Saidu Tonko Kamara, and representatives of the mission during the Committee’s sitting in Parliament on Tuesday this week.
At the centre of the dispute are allegations concerning land ownership, school management, the composition of the school board, teacher recruitment, admissions, community participation and the relationship between the mission and the Hastings Wharf community.
In his submission, Alhaji Abdul Karim told the Committee that ICODOHS was established to support communities through education, humanitarian assistance, and development. He said the organisation had been involved in education and other development activities for years and had established schools in different communities.
According to him, ICODOHS became involved in the Hastings Wharf area after discussions with community stakeholders regarding the use of land for development.
Alhaji Karim said the land was understood to be state land and that the mission was prepared to develop the area while working with the community and relevant government institutions.
He told the Committee that ICODOHS subsequently invested substantial resources in the development of the school, including building materials and other infrastructure. He also said the mission went through the relevant government processes before the school received approval to operate.
Alhaji Karim maintained that the mission had also invested in teachers and other educational resources, while a large proportion of the teachers were recruited from the community.
However, he alleged that problems later emerged over the administration of the school, including disagreements concerning the principal, teachers, admissions and the management of funds.
He further alleged that some individuals had attempted to interfere with the operations of the school and that disagreements over its management eventually escalated into threats and tension between the parties.
The ICODOHS founder also told Parliament that the mission had plans for further development at the site, including additional classrooms, an examination hall, a science laboratory and a computer facility. He said the organisation remained willing to regularise whatever documentation was required concerning the land in collaboration with the relevant government authorities.
Giving a separate submission, the Education Secretary of ICODOHS, Gibrilla Bangura, raised concerns about alleged threats and security challenges surrounding the dispute.
He told the Committee that the matter had previously been brought to the attention of the police and that attempts had been made to resolve the disagreement through dialogue.
According to Bangura, the mission had also engaged education authorities over issues affecting the administration of the school, including teachers and school management.
He maintained that ICODOHS had a responsibility to protect the educational interests of children and ensure that the school continued to function.
The Headman of Hastings Wharf, Alhaji Saidu Tonko Kamara, however, presented the Committee with a different account of the dispute.
He raised concerns about the relationship between the school and the community, particularly regarding the use of community land and the involvement of community stakeholders in decisions affecting the school.
Alhaji Kamara also spoke about concerns relating to the school environment, community development and the need for proper consultation with residents.
During the hearing, the Committee questioned him about whether the community had documentation concerning the land. In response, he confirmed that the community had documentation relating to the land.
The Committee Chairperson subsequently stressed that the matter would not be resolved merely through verbal submissions.
Hon. Rebecca Yei Sam said the Committee would conduct further investigations and cross check the claims made by the various parties before arriving at its findings.
She noted that Parliament had a responsibility to investigate matters affecting education and communities without taking sides.
She further explained that the Committee would engage relevant government institutions and stakeholders and could return to the matter whenever necessary.
The Chairperson emphasised that the Committee intended to rely on the law and evidence in making its recommendations rather than allowing the dispute to deepen divisions within the community.
She also indicated that the Committee would visit the school and the community as part of its investigation.
The Committee is expected to continue examining the land documentation, the status of the school, its management structure, government support, the role of the community and the claims made by ICODOHS.
The parliamentary inquiry comes amid competing accounts from the mission and community stakeholders, with both sides maintaining that their actions are aimed at protecting the interests of education and the people of Hastings Wharf.