By: Hon. Alpha Ben Mansaray
The Member of Parliament for Moyamba District, Hon. Alpha Ben Mansaray, has described the persistent delay in the payment of school fee subsidies as a “national embarrassment,” warning that it continues to undermine the effective running of schools across Sierra Leone.
Speaking during the weekly review programme on Epic Radio, the lawmaker said it was concerning that the Sierra Leone Teachers Union is repeatedly forced to engage the Office of the Vice President almost every academic year over delayed subsidy payments, despite the government’s awareness of their importance to school operations.
Hon. Mansaray noted that the financial burden of managing schools has increasingly shifted to parents, while government support through subsidies has remained largely unchanged since the introduction of the Free Quality School Education programme in 2018.
He disclosed that primary schools still receive Le10 per pupil, a figure he said has remained stagnant for about eight years, despite rising inflation, increased enrolment, and the growing cost of educational materials and basic commodities.
The MP further stated that subsidies for junior and senior secondary schools have also not significantly improved over the years, even as operational costs continue to rise nationwide.
He criticized what he described as “political propaganda” surrounding the education sector, arguing that while government often highlights its commitment to paying school fees for millions of pupils, it fails to address the inadequacy and stagnation of the actual per-pupil allocations.
“Paying the same amount in 2026 that was paid in 2018 is not progress,” he said. “Schools are expanding, enrolment is increasing, costs are rising, but financial support remains almost static.”
Hon. Mansaray emphasized that school subsidies are essential for the daily administration of schools, including the payment of volunteer teachers, procurement of teaching and learning materials, maintenance of facilities, administrative costs, and the organization of extracurricular activities such as sports and inter-house competitions.
He lamented that many schools are now unable to conduct such activities due to financial constraints caused by delayed or insufficient subsidies, forcing school authorities to request additional contributions from parents—thereby weakening the objective of free quality education.
The MP therefore called on government to demonstrate greater commitment by ensuring timely payment of subsidies that reflect current enrolment figures and the real operational needs of schools.
“Education cannot succeed on speeches alone,” he added. “If government truly values free quality education, then schools must be supported with adequate and timely subsidies to function effectively.”
