NEWS
School Reopens in Sierra Leone With New Tuition Charges
By Pat Kawa in Bo
Sep 29, 2008, 00:33

The Happy Faces of School Children in Sierra Leone....Parents Face the Cost of School Charges

As schools reopen Monday September 22^nd, the General Concern of Parents and Guardians is how to settle the Bills of their Dependants. In the past, and even now, many Students have dropped out of schools for lack of sponsorship because of the exorbitant school charges. It’s a trend that must stop now if the minister of Education .Mr. Mikailu Bah and his ministry want to achieve affordable quality education in the country.According to an aggrieved parent who spoke to this press yesterday one way this can be achieved is by reducing school charges and preventing corrupt school Authorities from levying excessive financial claims on cash trapped parents and guardians. The Ministry of Education youths and sports has thus taken a bold step in protecting poor parents from being preyed upon.

In a recent press release by the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports in collaboration with council of principals (CPSS) approved school charges for Secondary School reiterated the following guide lines which principals must adhere to for the achievement of affordable quality education in their respective schools.

The release which reads, school fees should be optional for  junior secondary schools (JSS)  which  is twenty thousand  Leones ( le 20,000) per term ,sixty thousand Leones  (le 60,000) per annum, and fees for Senior Secondary Schools   SSS is  twenty five thousand Leones ( le 25,000) per term and seventy –five thousand Leones ( le 75,000) per annum.  

The release states no payment should be made for furniture or development, except approved by the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports. The release further states no payment should be made for the issuance and collection of report cards and pupil ID cards. The sale of pamphlets not on approved school booklist should be discouraged the release states.

According to the release, no fees should be charged for Examinations both internal and external and also fees are not to be charged for extra classes conducted within the school’s premises. The release concludes that schools colours such as pocket badges, berets, school caps, ties, belts, and blazers are school items and are to be bought only from schools and all extra charges must have the approval of the ministry of Education Youths and Sports.