Head Teachers from various Primary Schools around Bombali District, Northern Sierra Leone have informed our medium that they haven’t received rice supply for both first and second terms on behalf of their respective Schools – thus depriving hundreds of kids from benefiting from the National School Feeding Program.
In an interview on March 22nd, 2024, the school heads said they were almost tired of complaining about the matter to authorities in the District.
Expressing their disappointment, the Head teachers accused officials at the regional National “School Feeding Program” Office in Makeni of doing anything possible for the beneficiaries to get the rice supply.
Ibrahim Munu Bangura, Headteacher of the Kankalay Islamic Primary School in Masuba opined that they have made several efforts and reported to authorities concern but he said it seems all just fall on deaf ears. Since the first term, Bangura said they have been visiting the office to ascertain what could be the problem.
The Co-ordinators stated that they had always told them they hadn’t received their supply because there was a problem with the omission of information.
Most of the information, Bangura said, the coordinators told them was omitted and once an error occurred, he said they were told all of the affected schools wouldn’t benefit.
Alfred G. Conteh, another head teacher from the Rosint Community Primary School in Gbabti Chiefdom, expressed dissatisfaction over the delay by the authorities to hand over the rice supply to them on behalf of the kids. Conteh said it was disgusting after they had done all they could to access the rice, but their efforts were going fruitless.
“This is sad and we’re even tired of going to the Offices because each time we go it’s the same story,” Fatima Sesay, the headteacher of Islaha Primary School in Makeni noted.
Ansumana Paye, the regional coordinator for the National School Feeding Program in the North did not comment when reached via his available phone number to cross-check. Several times, the regional coordinator said he was too busy and would promise to call back, but to no avail.
When reached to comment on the allegations, Joseph S. Kabia, the School Feeding Program Co-ordinator in Bombali District said the Office is aware of the concerns.
Kabia admitted that the complaints put up by the affected Heads of schools are true and correct.
Speaking over the phone, Kabia said the problem is a result of the omission and it does not only affect Bombali District.
The Office, he said is working to address those concerns. The problem of omission, he said is also reported in some areas where the school feeding program is ongoing.
What baffles many school heads is the fact that some schools that were having the same omission problem have lately received their supply and it has ignited speculations.