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The National Coordinator of Corruption Watch Sierra Leone, Alhaji Abu Koroma, has raised serious concerns regarding the government’s failure to pay school subsidies for two academic terms amidst the ongoing free quality education initiative.
He earnestly urged the government to ensure compliance with its obligations to support educational institutions.
Koroma revealed that the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) has mandated that each school must present approval letters confirming their eligibility to operate as academic institutions before any subsidies can be disbursed. These approval letters are issued by the Ministry itself.
Questioning the practicality of this requirement, Koroma pointed out that many schools have been operational for over a century, casting doubt on their ability to provide such documents. “Some schools have existed for over ten decades; how can they possibly have their approval letters?” he asked.
He further emphasized the challenges faced by district-level branches of the Ministry, stating that they are struggling to produce the necessary approval documents. “If the Ministry in the districts do not have it, then where can the school principals get theirs?” he questioned.
Koroma confirmed that the MBSSE has halted the disbursement of school fees subsidies until schools comply with their demands for approval letters. He concluded by appealing to the government to reconsider its position and expedite the payment of the owed subsidies.
This government is no longer serious about the so called Free quality education project.
Please, Mr president if you are tired, tell the people that you are now tire of the free education business and let the parents take their responsibilities.
Some schools were approved before the war. All those documents were burnt during the war.As school heads we have long since informed the ministry about this and nothing was done about it.
What data has the ministry been using to pay subsidies for the past years?I think the ministry is approving schools and issuing approval letters.Dont they have the names and approval letters in their data base? Just don’t understand.