The Old Princewaleans Association and the Prince of Wales School Kingtom community have called on the Government of Sierra Leone and the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education to urgently intervene in the stalled Education Support Project, also known as the BADEA Project, at the historic Prince of Wales School in Freetown.
According to a statement issued by the association in May 2026, the project, funded by the Arab Bank and reportedly scheduled to commence in July 2023, was intended to deliver major infrastructural improvements at the school. These included the construction of new buildings, rehabilitation of existing structures, renovation of staff quarters, improvement of roads, and the construction of critical sea banking to address coastal erosion affecting the school environment.
The association noted that work officially started in August 2023 with an initial completion timeline of 12 months, which was later extended. However, with only weeks remaining before the revised deadline, concerns have intensified over what the association described as slow and unsatisfactory progress on the project site.
Among the major concerns raised were the minimal level of construction activities, an insufficient number of workers on site, and prolonged periods of inactivity. The association further alleged that some key components of the original project scope, including internal road works, had been removed.
The statement also expressed concerns over the alleged misuse of the school compound as a works yard for unrelated projects, while citing increasing incidents of theft and insecurity due to poor site management and lack of adequate control measures.
Additionally, the association lamented the absence of formal communication regarding the status of project funding, contract variations, and the expected completion date of the project.
The OPWA emphasized that while similar projects at sister institutions such as Bo School, Kenema School, and Magburaka Boys Secondary School are reportedly nearing completion, progress at Prince of Wales School has remained significantly behind schedule.
Describing Prince of Wales School as the premier government school in Freetown and a flagship institution under the government’s Free Quality Education programme, the association stressed that the successful completion of the project would represent a major achievement for the education sector and national development.
The association is now demanding an immediate written status report detailing the project scope, available funds, and revised timeline. It also called for a stakeholder engagement involving the MBSSE, contractors, and OPWA representatives before the expiration of the current deadline.
Furthermore, the association urged authorities to take swift action to improve security at the site and safeguard school property from further theft and damage.
The statement concluded with an appeal to the government to ensure that Prince of Wales School receives fair treatment and that the project is completed in line with the promises made to the school community.
