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Prominent female lawyer, Basita Michael, has criticised the Government of Sierra Leone for organising the Salone Civic Festival instead of paying school fees subsidies to schools across the country.
Michael, in a Facebook post, stated, “Funds for festivals. No funds for school subsidies.
Education: A top priority,” referring to the government commitment as education being a top priority in the Bio-led administration.
This post by Michael has sparked debate among netizens, while others are in support of her post, others view the festival as an educational center.
Michael’s concern was drawn from an official reminder letter from the Sierra Leone Teachers Union (SLTU) to the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), expressing deep concern over the delay in releasing funds for the first term of the 2025/2026 school year.
Whether the festival is a waste of funds, as described by many, is a debate for clarification from the authority concerned.
Meanwhile, the MBSSE and the SLTU were in a gridlock in September over delay of payment of school subsidies. School heads in the country refused to go to work after confirmation that the government was unable to pay the said subsidies at the given deadline.
President Julius Maada Bio, Sierra Leone’s president who campaigned in 2018 to make education accessible for all Sierra Leoneans, faced criticism from some of the locals over the impasse. Some questioned the government’s commitment to their 2018 promise.
