By Joseph Momoh, Daily Scope Reporter
The Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL) has unveiled a report detailing significant shortcomings in the implementation of Sierra Leone’s Free Quality Education (FQE) initiative. Released on August 28, the report highlights critical issues faced by schools in Freetown and other regions.
Key findings indicate that only 36.6 percent of schools received financial subsidies, while merely 16 percent were provided with necessary stationery. Alarmingly, just 5 percent of schools benefited from the school feeding program.
The report underscores several systemic issues, including inconsistent payments, inadequate supplies, spoiled food, and demands placed on officials within the feeding program. These factors have adversely affected service delivery and teacher performance. Additionally, CARL noted instances of inflated enrollment figures reported by some school administrators, coupled with a lack of transparency in resource management.
Jeremy Ben Simbo, Head of Programs at CARL, emphasized the report’s implications, stating, “These findings reveal serious gaps in accountability and service delivery that directly impact both students and educators.”
In response to the report, Augustine Koma, the national coordinator for the FQE program, acknowledged the challenges but highlighted the initiative’s accomplishments. He reported that over 3,000 schools have been certified nationwide, more than 12,000 teachers have been hired, and student enrollment has surged from 1.98 million in 2018 to 3.1 million in 2021. Furthermore, Koma noted the distribution of 94 containers of textbooks and 12 million exercise books throughout the country.
Patrick Sandeep, Coordinator of Operations at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), stated that the commission will thoroughly review CARL’s findings to identify potential areas for action.
The Free Quality Education program, launched in 2018 by President Julius Maada Bio, is the cornerstone of his administration’s efforts to enhance access to quality education in public schools.
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