By: Fayia Moseray
The Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, has outlined the significant progress made in Sierra Leone’s education sector over the past seven years under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio.
Speaking during an interview with Radio Democracy 98.1 FM, Minister Bah emphasized the government’s strong commitment to improving education nationwide. He revealed that budgetary allocation to the education sector has doubled from 11 percent in 2018 to 22 percent in 2024. As a result, the number of children previously out of the formal school system has significantly decreased.
According to the Minister, since President Bio assumed office in 2018, over 600 classrooms have been constructed across the country. He also noted significant progress in achieving gender parity, with more girls now enrolled in schools compared to previous years.
Minister Bah highlighted that over 2.5 million children have been enrolled in the school system due to the government’s flagship “Free Quality Education” initiative. He added that public examination pass rates have improved remarkably since the program’s inception.
“In just a few years, we’ve seen a massive increase in the number of students passing public exams. This is evidence of the extensive reforms and investments we’ve made,” Minister Bah stated. He further mentioned that more than 18,000 teachers have been added to the national payroll, strengthening the education workforce.
Additionally, Minister Bah reported a significant boost in education-related Gross Domestic Product (GDP), rising to 9.6 percent a considerable improvement from what the current administration inherited.
He also pointed out that the progress made has earned President Bio recognition on the global stage, with international institutions naming him a “Champion of Education.”
Minister Bah went on to commend the government’s efforts in enhancing the School Feeding Program, which he said has seen notable improvements over the past five years as part of the broader “Feed Salone Project.”
He concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring that the Free Quality Education initiative continues to deliver meaningful and lasting impact for the people of Sierra Leone.