In a concerning development, the head teacher of the Pujehun District Education Primary School in Liya Kpaka, Bockarie Rogers, has been arrested for the systematic diversion of school feeding supplies meant for pupils of the school.

According to Lansana Juana, the District School Feeding Program Coordinator in Pujehun, said they received reports that the suspect now Bockarie Rogers had been habitually embezzling the food items provided by the government’s school feeding program. An investigation was launched, which revealed that Rogers had misappropriated 29 bags of 50-kilogram rice, 7 cartons of vegetable oil, 1 bag of 25-kilogram salt, and other essential supplies.

“This has been an ongoing issue where school heads are siphoning the school feeding supplies for their own personal gain, hindering the development and nutrition of the pupils,” Juana lamented.

Upon receiving the tip-off, the authorities quickly alerted the police, who apprehended teacher Bockarie. The suspect is currently assisting the police with their investigation into the matter.

The school feeding program is a crucial government initiative aimed at improving school attendance and addressing malnutrition among primary school pupils in Sierra Leone. By providing nutritious meals, the program seeks to encourage parents to send their children to school and ensure they receive adequate sustenance during the day.

This incident highlights the ongoing challenge of corruption and mismanagement within the education system, which can have a detrimental impact on the well-being and educational opportunities of young learners. Authorities have vowed to take strict action against any individuals found to be abusing the school feeding program for personal gain.