The Sierra Leone Teachers Union (SLTU) has announced plans to embark on a 21-day strike due to the government’s failure to pay outstanding school fees subsidies.

In a letter addressed to the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, the Union highlighted the prolonged delay in payments, which has left schools across the country in financial uncertainty.

According to the SLTU, despite numerous efforts to resolve the issue, the government has yet to pay the subsidies for the third term of the 2023/2024 academic year and the first term of the 2024/2025 academic year.

The Union has now issued a formal 21-day notice, effective from Tuesday, 5th November 2024, threatening to withdraw all teaching services if their demands are not met.

The Union’s letter outlines key grievances:

1.Immediate payment of all outstanding school fees subsidies for both the third term of the 2023/2024 academic year and the first term of the 2024/2025 academic year.

2.Timely payment of subsidies at the start of every school term moving forward.

3.Rectification of issues related to non-payment, underpayment, and other discrepancies in the school fees subsidies.

4. A review of the current subsidy per pupil to reflect the rising cost of living and inflation in Sierra Leone.

5. Swift replacement of teachers who have left the profession due to death, retirement, or abandonment, with replacements made directly in schools where the vacancies occurred.

6. Immediate resumption of the supply of essential teaching and learning materials to schools.

The SLTU stressed that without a resolution to these issues, the Union would have no choice but to initiate industrial action, leading to a countrywide shutdown of teaching services.

This potential strike could have a significant impact on Sierra Leone’s education system, leaving thousands of students without access to classroom instruction.

The Union also called on all teachers to continue providing their services diligently during the 21-day notice period but warned that failure to address their concerns would result in a full withdrawal of services.

As the deadline approaches, the government faces mounting pressure to resolve the payment issues and prevent a strike that could disrupt education across the nation.

With the education sector already facing challenges, the teachers’ strike threat further highlights the urgent need for reforms and timely support for schools and educators.