By: Problyn J. Alpha
The Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (CPSS) and the National Head Teachers Council (NHTC) in Bo District have engaged with regional and district executives of the Sierra Leone Teachers Union, warning that they will lay down their tools unless the government addresses the outstanding school subsidies.
The primary focus of the meeting was to discuss the ongoing subsidy issues that have become a major challenge for school administrators, the supply of teaching and learning materials, and the overall welfare of teachers across the country. These concerns, if left unaddressed, are seen as a serious threat to not only the school authorities but also to the success of the human capital development and President Bio’s Free Quality Education (FQE) agenda.
Speaking to our correspondent, Luseni Gorgra, Chairman of the CPSS in Bo, expressed frustration over the government’s lack of action regarding the subsidy payments. He described the government’s attitude as “laissez-faire,” stating that throughout the 2024-2025 academic year, many schools had not received even one term’s subsidy. This situation, he added, has caused considerable embarrassment to school administrators and is deemed “very unfortunate.”
Chairman Gorgra has therefore called on the government to allow school administrators to collect school fees if the government fails to meet its promises. The resolutions agreed upon during the meeting, according to Gorgra, include subsidies must be paid for all schools, including backlogs from the third term, or parents should be asked to pay school fees.
If the subsidies are not paid, schools will not reopen for the 2025-2026 academic year. A letter will be written to the government of Sierra Leone, threatening strike action if the subsidies are not paid. Teaching and learning materials, which have been lacking for the past three years, must be supplied to schools. An increase in school fees by fifty Leones for primary schools, one hundred Leones for Junior Secondary Schools (JSS), and one hundred and twenty Leones for Senior Secondary Schools (SSS) nationwide. Engagement with all radio stations to discuss the pressing issues faced by school leaders.
“If the government fails to address our resolutions, we will have no choice but to lay down our tools,” he stated.
Rev. Umaru Lahi Koroma, Vice President of the Sierra Leone Teachers Union, described the concerns of the school heads as legitimate. He noted that the union has met with the Minister of the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) on several occasions, but the issue of unpaid subsidies remains unresolved. He added that the subsidy problem has caused significant embarrassment and frustration for school heads, making it difficult for them to run their schools effectively.
Rev. Koroma further emphasized that the union has joined forces with the heads of schools to pressure the government into fulfilling its promises for the betterment of education in Sierra Leone. “If the government, which promised to support Free Quality Education, is struggling to meet its obligations, it should be transparent with the public and allow school heads to collect school fees instead of leaving them in a state of uncertainty.”
When asked about the role played by the union to address the concerns of teachers, Rev. Koroma explained that the union has provided various forms of assistance to teachers, ranging from medical support to academic assistance, benefiting thousands of teachers across the country.
Despite the challenges faced by school administrators, the success of the Free Quality Education initiative is often highlighted, though it is clear that such challenges cannot be ignored. “You cannot run a government on deception,” he concluded.