The Government of Sierra Leone (GOSL) has made a total payment of Le 42, 883, 440, 000 as tuition fees for 1, 871, 188 pupils in Pre-Primary, Junior and Senior Secondary schools in government and government-assisted schools for the second term of 2019/2020 school year.
The Ministry of Finance in a statement on Thursday June 25, 2020, said that it made the payment as part of GOSL’s commitment to support the Free Quality Education Programme, and that payments had been made directly into the bank accounts of beneficiary schools based on the approved school list and enrollment data submitted by theMinistry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE).
According to the public notice, there are 298 pre-primary government and government-assisted schools with a total enrollment figure of 32, 404. The Ministry disclosed that it paid Le10, 000 per pupil in pre-primary schools, totally Le324,040,000 for all the pupils enrolled.
“There are 4,846 primary schools with the enrollment of 1, 285, 852,” the Ministry added. “We paid Le 10, 000 per pupil totally Le 12, 858, 520, 000 for all the pupils enrolled.”
The Ministry stated that, there are 1,023 Junior Secondary Schools
(JSS) with an enrollment rate of 346, 904, noting that the Ministry pays Le 50,000 per pupil totally Le 17,345,200,000.
The Ministry added that there are 371 Senior Secondary Schools (SSS) with an enrollment rate of 205, 928, pointing out that they paid Le 60, 000 per pupil totally Le 12, 355, 680, 000; with a grand total of 6,343 schools, 1, 871, 188 enrollment and Le 42, 883, 440, 000 amount paid.
The ministry said that the delay in payment was due to the head count exercise of pupils which had been undertaken by the MBSSE to validate the actual enrollment figures of pupils benefiting from the Free Quality Education Programme.
By Stephen V. Lansana
29/6/2020. ISSUE NO.: 7854