Today marks a major milestone in the annals of post-independent Sierra Leone. His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio will officially launch his government’s flagship Free Education project that in the coming years will completely transform the country’s primary and secondary education landscape.

Bio sees free primary and secondary education as the means through which the nation can be rid off illiteracy, setting the pace for increased human resource capital for sustainable national development.

An appreciative nation at home and abroad has hailed President Bio for his bold initiative, calling it a step in the right direction towards empowering children from poor backgrounds to escape the clutches of illiteracy and poverty.

A majority of Sierra Leone youth, even when jobs are available, are not employed due to inadequacy in education and technical skills. In many areas, inadequate skills and knowledge cripples the economy as there is not enough skilled labor to drive the nation’s technological, managerial, administrative and entrepreneurial growth.

Given the economic situation of the poor who still make up more than 60% of the adult population, many households cannot afford basic education for their children. Thus, over the next five years of its rolling out, 1.5 million school children are expected to benefit from provision of President Bio’s Free Quality School Education initiative that starts this September.

The project will ensure increased access to government-assisted schools for all children from pre-primary to senior secondary levels across the country.
Beside the Government of Sierra Leone, the program’s major international supporters include UK Aid, World Bank, Irish Aid, World Food Programme and UNICEF.

Commenting on the benefits of the scheme, Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Alpha Timbo, said: “The waiver of fees for learning in any form will definitely ease the burden on parents and guardians who are making a lot of sacrifices under extremely difficult economic conditions to see their children become educated.
“This initiative by our Government will no doubt increase educational outcomes and human resource capital will be strengthened to meet the growing social and technological revolution in a globalized world.”

A hotline (#4060 from any local network), is being set up to encourage pupils, parents and community stakeholders to report malpractices in schools and communities. The District Deputy Directors of Education, Ward Education Committees and paramount chiefs will also conduct rigorous monitoring in their localities.