The Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law – Sierra Leone (CARL-SL) has taken note of a social media post by the Minister
of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Mr Conrad Sackey, regarding allegations that Agape Primary School, Freetown
demanded and collected money from parents for the release of their children’s National Primary School Examination (NPSE)
results. According to the minister, the school authorities were summoned to respond to the allegations, and money collected for
this purpose must be refunded, and parents should not pay to collect NPSE results.
CARL-SL strongly agrees with the Minister’s statement: “Every Leone matter to a struggling family. Every child deserves a fair
chance.”
We remain strongly and consistently committed to protecting the integrity of education in Sierra Leone, as it is fundamental to
Sierra Leone’s future, particularly for children in under privileged and deprived communities. Unauthorised financial demands
can place additional burdens on families already struggling to meet basic needs, and may ultimately affect children’s ability to
progress in school.
We therefore commend the Ministry for its prompt intervention and reminds all stakeholders that, because Agape is a private
school does not place it outside government regulation. The Ministry is responsible for the control and supervision of basic and
senior secondary education, including government, government-assisted, and private schools, under the applicable legal and policy
framework. We therefore call for these responsibilities to be exercised consistently across all categories of schools.
Going forward, now that interviews for admission to JSS One are underway, we urge the Ministry to timely communicate a
reasonable fee and payment requirements for government and government-assisted schools across the country.
CARL-SL makes it clear that an unauthorised demand of money by any government or government assisted school is a recipe for
corruption, and must not be compromised by anyone. Where the facts show an act of corruption, abuse of authority, fraud or
other unlawful conduct, the appropriate authorities must investigate and act in accordance with the law. Such matters must be
handled based on evidence and due process, not sentiments.
We further encourage Parents to familiarise themselves with officially approved charges and report any school that demands
unauthorised payments outside the established framework, retaining evidence where possible.
CARL-SL wish to conduct a strong and continuous monitoring of upcoming admission processes, to ensuring that school
authorities strictly comply with the Ministry’s approved financial demands.
Furthermore, we call on the Anti-Corruption Commission, Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Teaching Service
Commission, Conference of Principals, Sierra Leone Teachers Union, Civil Society Organizations, and other relevant
stakeholders, including the media to monitor the process and prevent payment of unauthorised charges by parents.
CARL-SL remains committed to promoting transparency, accountability and the rule of law in education, by ensuring that no
child is disadvantaged because of his or her financial status
-END-
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