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Corruption Watch Sierra Leone has called on the Government of Sierra Leone to ensure the timely payment of school fee subsidies under the Free Quality School Education (FQSE) programme, raising concerns over what it described as persistent delays and partial disbursements to schools across the country.
Speaking through its National Coordinator, Alhaji Abu Koroma, the organisation appealed to the Government to immediately release outstanding subsidies for the second and third terms of the current academic year, stressing that schools are facing serious financial difficulties as a result of the delays.
According to Mr. Koroma, the Government has so far only made partial payments of second-term subsidies to senior secondary schools, while third-term payments for those schools remain unpaid.
He further stated that junior secondary and primary schools have not received any subsidy payments since the first term, leaving both the second and third-term payments outstanding.
The National Coordinator noted that delays in the payment of subsidies have become a recurring issue, particularly with third-term payments, which he claimed are often left unpaid by the Government.
Mr. Koroma said Corruption Watch Sierra Leone fully supports the Government’s FQSE initiative, describing education as the backbone of national development and a major driver of social change. He, however, emphasized that the success of any educational programme depends on its proper implementation and completion.
He also appealed for the continuation of the FQSE programme regardless of any future political or administrative changes in Government, stating that the initiative remains important to the country’s educational development.
The organisation further disclosed that it has continued to receive complaints from school administrators regarding unpaid subsidies. According to Mr. Koroma, several schools have allegedly gone for more than three years without receiving subsidy payments, despite previously benefiting from the programme.
He stated that affected schools have reportedly not received any formal communication from the Ministry explaining why the payments were stopped. He added that Deputy Directors of Education in various districts are aware of the situation.
Mr. Koroma called on the Government, particularly the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education and the Ministry of Finance, to investigate why many schools have allegedly been excluded from receiving subsidies.
He concluded by reaffirming Corruption Watch Sierra Leone’s commitment to serving as an independent watchdog and an auxiliary partner to the Anti-Corruption Commission in promoting accountability and transparency in the country.
