–Grand Mufti Sumaworo Underscores Parents’ Support In Children Education
At least 23 students of the Abdullah Bin Masoud Arabic and English Elementary and Junior High School (ABMAEEJHS) graduated with honor and flying colors on Sunday, July 22, 2024 during the school’s sixth graduation ceremony, with a call to parents from the Grand Mufti of the Supreme Council of Fatwa, Republic of Liberia, Sheikh Abubakar Sumaworo, to continue investing in the education of their children in the nation.
The sixth graduation exercise of the 2023/2024 academic year of ABMAEEJHS, with graduates from the kindergarten and sixth grade class, convened in the auditorium of the E. Johnathan Goodridge Memorial High School, Barnesville Housing Estate, Monrovia, was characterized by reciting of Islamic poems, an inspirational speech delivered by the valedictorian of the school, Ibrahim A. Jalloh; Quran recitation, hadiths, motivational speech by student Mafata Tulay, Islamic Sermon delivered by student Abubakar Tourey and interpretation of the Quran, importance of girl education in Islam, Tawheed, and reading of the institution’s history by students of the press club, among others. Splendid performances thrilled parents and guardians, school administration as well as education stakeholders.
The event also coincided with the honoring and gowning of Grand Mufti Sumaworo by the school’s administration/teaching staff for his farsightedness in the establishment of the ABMAEEJHS which continues to mold the minds of students in the attainment of quality education in Arabic and English in the Barnesville locale.
In a special statement of appreciation of the honor bestowed upon him, Sheikh Abubakar Sumaworo said the honor has imbued him to further support the ABMAEEJHS in Liberia as it becomes second to none in the area.
He said, ABMAEEJHS is the 23rd Arabic and English school in the country established by his organization, thus bringing to 25 the numbers of schools operating in Liberia by the organization.
The renowned Islamic scholar told the audience that his organization contemplates establishing other schools in the country to meet the academic needs of young people reading Arabic and English, desirous of entering the classrooms to learn and get educated, thereby contributing their quotas to nation building process in not-too-distant future.
Sheikh Sumaworo disclosed that his organization has established schools in Bong, Lofa, Bomi, Cape Mount, Gbarpolu, Margibi and Grand Gedeh Counties which, to date, are benefiting approximately 8,000 students.
Turning to the administration of the ABMAEEJHS, Grand Mufti Sumaworo said if all goes well, he would assist the administration towards inculcating in the school’s curriculum vocational skills training programs in the areas of computer science and sewing, just to name a few.
He then pledged to make available some desktop computers/tables and some sewing machines for young female students of the ABMAEEJHS interested in sewing as an extra-course during the next academic year (2025), to jump-start the vocational skills program when introduced and spearheaded by qualified instructors not bent on offering grades to students for money.
Grand Mufti Sumaworo also admonished parents and guardians of students of the ABMEEJHS to help buttress efforts of teachers of the institution by investing in the education of their offspring. At the same time, he wants them to make it their bounding duties to teach their children at their various homes the moral values and respect for school and constituted authorities.
He went on, “The school is under obligation to teach well and prepare students to further stand the test of time in withstanding the challenges ahead of them as future leaders.”
Earlier on, the guest speaker and educator, Sheikh Mohammed S. Gateweh, said he was delighted to have served in the capacity as guest speaker at the Six Graduation Exercise of the ABMEEJHS.
Guest speaker Gateweh, with at least 21 years of service in the teaching profession, majoring in Language Arts, and molding the minds of the younger generation, spoke on the topic:” The Importance of Education.”
He pointed out that education is pivotal and the light in darkness, adding, “Without educating the youth or younger generation to become our next leaders of tomorrow, the nation is doomed.”
The Liberian educator voiced that with an educated society, the country will be developed and its human resource capacity will as well improved; but other than that, the youths would be lagging behind to compete with their counterparts educationally within the comity of nations.
He entreated national government, parents, guardians and promoters of quality education in Liberia, to do everything within their reach to see reason to educate the youths across the country, as they strive to be on par with other students nationally and internationally in the arena of academia.
Sheikh Gateweh wants parents, national government and stakeholders to push forward in the direction of education for young people here because, according to him, “Education is the only legacy we will leave behind with them when we are no longer around to impact the lives of others in society.”
For his part, the principal of the school, Mr. Lamin Sesay in honoring and gowning the founder of the ABMAEEJHS, Sheikh Abubakar Sumaworo, said the administration’s honor being bestowed on the renowned Liberian Islamic scholar, was done by a surprise to the honoree.
Sesay, on behalf of the school’s administration or teaching staff, hailed the efforts of Grand Mufti Sumaworo for his steadfastness and investment in the education of more than ten thousand Liberians in and out of the country.
He then promised the school administration’s commitment to continue providing basic and quality education to the student populace of the ABMAEEJHS in the coming academic year in the Township of Barnesville, to attract more students to the classroom.
