Sierra Leone Government Misallocating Resources on Ineffective Initiatives

Information about Education in Sierra Leone

The so-called New Direction is continuing to head in the wrong direction. Clearly, they are misallocating resources on non-prioritized and ineffective initiatives—an utter failure.

“The FQSE initiative, launched in August 2018 by President Julius Maada Bio, aimed to improve access to education and enhance learning outcomes nationwide. However, education leaders at the meeting cited financial and administrative issues as challenges threatening its continued success.”

— Source

The start of Sierra Leone’s 2025/2026 academic year could be delayed, as the Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (CPSS) and the National Council of Head Teachers (NaCOHT) have warned that they may not reopen schools unless key concerns are addressed by government authorities.

The warning follows a stakeholders’ meeting held on August 25, 2025, at the Sierra Leone Teachers Union (SLTU) office in Kenema. The meeting brought together executives of CPSS, NaCOHT, and district SLTU officials, who jointly adopted nine resolutions they say are necessary to sustain the Free Quality School Education (FQSE) programme.

The FQSE initiative, launched in August 2018 by President Julius Maada Bio, was intended to improve access to education and enhance learning outcomes across the country. However, education leaders at the meeting cited financial and administrative issues as challenges threatening its continued success.

• Payment of subsidies: Government should clear outstanding subsidies for the 2nd and 3rd terms of the 2024/2025 school year and the 1st term of 2025/2026, while increasing the subsidy rate from NLe 10 to NLe 30 per pupil.

• Reinstatement of suspended teachers: Teachers removed from the payroll by the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) should be reinstated and paid salaries for July and August.

• Review of BECE results: The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) should review results amid concerns that some legitimate candidates were disadvantaged.

• Clarification on WASSCE curriculum: MBSSE should issue a memo by August 30 specifying which curriculum will be used for the 2026 WASSCE exams.

• Salary adjustments: Teachers promoted to senior positions, along with principals and vice principals, should be placed on the correct salary scales.

• Performance-Based Financing (PBF): The Government should ensure timely and consistent disbursement of PBF payments.

• Promotion of school heads: Principals and head teachers currently on grade 9 should be promoted to grade 11 and placed on appropriate salary scales.

• Alternative to subsidies: If subsidies are unsustainable, the government should clear existing arrears and allow schools to collect fees directly from parents.

• Conditional reopening: Schools will not reopen on September 8 unless at least two terms’ subsidy payments and other resolutions are addressed.

Lansana Brima, Secretary of CPSS, confirmed the unions’ decision to uphold the resolutions. He stated that their stance aims to secure the credibility of the FQSE programme, not to oppose government policy.

The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education has not yet issued an official response to the resolutions. If no agreement is reached, thousands of pupils may be unable to begin the new academic year as planned.

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Sierra Leone: September 5, 2025: Teachers to go on strike on the 8th September.

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“You know it looks like we are going through the stages of the plagues.”

— Source: Prof. Dr. Prince Hycy Bull | 8 September 2025

The Sierra Leone Failed Educational System: From the Athens of Africa to the ‘Bormeh’ of Africa

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“The Sierra Leone Teachers’ Union (SLTU) has suspended its strike action, and schools will reopen on September 15th for the 2025/26 school year. ”

— Source: UPDATE: September 10, 2025

Conrad Sackey, the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), has confirmed that school subsidies for the first and second terms of the 2024/2025 school year have been paid.

During a weekly press conference, Sackey announced that a total of NLe 82,514,470 was disbursed as school subsidies for the first and second terms of the 2024/25 academic year, as of September 6, 2025. He further stated that the government has now fully paid the subsidies for both terms, amounting to a total of NLe 113,287,870.

He assured the Teachers’ Union that the government would clear payments for retired teachers and disburse first-term subsidies for the 2025/2026 academic year on schedule.

Concerning the issue of 4,900 teachers who were suspended from the payroll, Sackey mentioned that the Teachers' Union has identified genuine cases of affected teachers and confirmed that 1,802 of them have been reinstated. Ongoing discussions aim to address the remaining concerns raised by the SLTU. Additionally, the academic year for 2025/26 is set to begin on September 15, 2025.

Congratulations on Your Graduating with a Master of Business Administration—MBA!

Sarah B H Ellis; MBA

Arden University, Birmingham, UK; Class of 2023

Congratulations, and we are so proud of you!

We're so proud of you for all your hard work and dedication. An incredible achievement to earn an MBA, but it is even more impressive to do so while juggling work, studies, and family responsibilities.

Congratulations on Your Graduating with a Master of Business Administration—MBA!

I know that it was not easy, but you never gave up. You worked hard, stayed focused, and never let anything get in your way —an inspiration to many, and we are so grateful to have you as a family.

Your MBA is a testament to your intelligence, drive, determination, and commitment to excellence. We know you have big plans for the future, and we're excited to see your accomplishment; with your skills and knowledge, you can make a difference in the world. 

We wish you all the best in your future endeavors. Congratulations again, Aru, and we are so proud of you! Continue to do amazing things.

Tagged: #Arden University, Birmingham, UK | #StageClip | #ClassOf2023

Caps Off to You, Graduate!

Estelle Nyandah Edwards

LaSalle University Class of 2023

Congratulations to Estelle Nyandah Edwards on her four-year journey at LaSalle University. We're so proud of you and honored to celebrate graduation day with you! As an Explorer, you never lost. You value the pursuit and exploration of knowledge and faith. 

It finally paid off after years of hard work and sacrifice —a degree in Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice. Your program of study allowed you the opportunity to excel in the Judiciary Field. Your future is beyond bright.

May 13, 2023 Commencement

La Salle News

Click or Tap to Take a Look Back: La Salle graduates across all 3 schools reflect on their journeys

Highlight reel - Commencement 2023: Prepared for whatever comes next

“Classmates, when you enter the world, continue to remind yourself about how powerful the education is that you received at La Salle. Believe in how much you can accomplish, and if you are ever in doubt, bet on yourself. Use the tools in your toolbox and apply them to every situation you face.”

— Leah Brown, ’23, Student Commencement speaker

Ghana’s Education Minister

Unopposed in principle to online exams

By Benson Afful

The pandemic has disrupted the academic calendar of the schools, and there are fears it could delay the start of the next academic year in September.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, has said he is not opposed to universities conducting their examinations online so long as they can do so and can ensure the participation of all their students.

For the first time in the country’s history, universities having to devise innovative ways to provide lessons and conduct exams as schools remain closed until further notice as part of measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19.

Many universities have been organizing lectures online, and the decision by some to conduct end-of-semester exams online has sparked resistance among some students. Who believe there are many challenges with that mode of contact that school authorities have not addressed.

Reacting to the issue in a media interview, the education minister said if universities can conduct exams online, the ministry would not object unless the mode of the exams disenfranchises some students.

One of the public universities, the Ghana Institute of Journalism, issued a communique containing the revised academic calendar for the second semester 2019/2020 academic year that online exams will be held for their students. The communique provided modalities for how the exams, scheduled for May 25 to June 12, will be conducted.

Some students at the institute, however, expressed their reservations about the decision to conduct exams online, pointing to challenges such as the cost and reliability of internet services.

Currently, it is not clear when schools across the country will reopen as cases of the novel coronavirus keep going up. The pandemic has disrupted the academic calendar of the schools, and there are fears it could delay the start of the next academic year in September.