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Foday Kuyateh, Western Area Regional Secretary of the Sierra Leone Teachers Union (SLTU), has criticized the national budget’s 21 percent allocation to the education sector, labeling it a “disappointment” that has failed to translate into meaningful welfare improvements for teachers.
Speaking in an interview with Truth Media, Kuyateh addressed the current challenges facing the teaching force, noting that the optimism surrounding the increased education budget—a priority since 2018—has not been matched by reality.
“The 21% was a disappointment to the teaching profession,” Kuyateh stated. “Though the government had made an increment, it is not significant [enough] to change the living condition of teachers.”
According to the Regional Secretary, the union had envisaged that the budgetary focus would elevate the status of the profession, making it “enviable” to the public. specifically, the SLTU had hoped the least qualified teachers would earn a minimum of Le3,000 monthly following the allocation. However, Kuyateh confirmed that currently, “not a single teacher” earns that figure.
Kuyateh called on the government to address these disparities through the Wages and Compensation Commission. He urged the Commission to harmonize public sector pay, specifically suggesting that salary adjustments in high-earning parastatals could help fund necessary increases for the nation’s educators.
