Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.
-Koffi Annan
His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio has officially launched the free quality pre-primary, primary and secondary education for government and government assisted schools starting 17 September 2018.
The government’s tenacious focus on education goes beyond fulfilling a campaign promise. The budget for education was increased from 11% to a massive 21%.
Free QUALITY education is very expensive, but the new direction is about doing what needs to done to make Sierra Leone the pride of Africa.
The govt managed to convince quite a formidable line up of foreign donors to help – including UK Aid, World Bank, Irish Aid, World Food Programme and UNICEF. The drive to raise finance for free quality education for Sierra Leone must start on an individual level. My husband leading by example pledged 3 months salary to support the programme, other govt officials were also magnanimous in their financial support.
I used the occasion to also launch a multi-donor basket fund that would raise additional funds for the free education scheme. The business community were all out to support, as well as various govt parastatals. My office will roll out specifics of how the multi-donor basket fund will be effectively managed internationally .
The children are the future of this great country. We have a social contract, to invest in them. In the words of Nelson Mandela
“Education is the most powerful weapon
you can use to change the world”.
I will end with a quote from His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio on the Launch of free education for the first time in the history of Sierra Leone:
“This is not only a legacy we are leaving for our children but also it is a precious inheritance for future generations.”
Free quality education in Sierra Leone
