Sierra Leonean students leave for China for further studies

The last groups out of the 49 Sierra Leonean students who won Chinese scholarships this year left Freetown on Sunday to pursue further studies in China.

The 49 students, some of whom had begun leaving for China on Sept. 1, will undergo various studies in a number of Chinese institutions of higher learning.

Saying goodbye to the students and handing over their tickets, Sierra Leone's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Samura Kamara hoped they will serve as ambassadors of Sierra Leone by promoting the country's good culture and traditions.

He told them to count themselves very fortunate to be selected among the many students who vied for the Chinese scholarships.

He thanked the Chinese government for offering the people of Sierra Leone such a high number of scholarships for the students to capacitate themselves and contribute to the country's economic development.

Dr. Samura described the courses as very relevant to Sierra Leone's economy noting that "that these are the type of professionals the country is looking for ".

He spoke of the very cordial relationship existing between both countries and recalled the Chinese intervention in the country's Ebola crisis, which he said helped to galvanize the international support.

The deputy Minister of Education Christiana Thorpe hoped the students going will make "good use of their stay and comport themselves as ambassadors of Sierra Leone ". Endit