Despite Unpaid School Fees Subsidies… Bio Spends Over NLe200 M On Overseas Travelling
According to the Government of Sierra Leone General Purpose Financial Statements of the consolidated fund for the financial year 2024, the President Bio led new direction administration spent over two hundred million new Leones which is equivalent to over two billion old Leones on overseas travelling in 2024.
In the financial year 2023, the sum of over one hundred and ninety million new Leones which is equivalent to over one hundred and ninety billion old Leones was spent on overseas travelling.
Despite the expenses in question, the government is yet to pay school fees subsidies among others for which teachers are on strike.
In a notice put out by the Sierra Leone Teachers Union (SLTU) on 3rd September 2025, the Union stated that in consultation with its Sub-Associations namely CPSS, NaCOHT, CHTVI and NSA, wishes to remind government of their suspended Strike Notice issued on 25th November, 2024 relating to the issue of school fees subsidies, amongst others.
“However, due to the continued prevalence of the issues raised, the Union has no alternative but to lift its suspended strike notice and hereby declares a strike action with effect from Monday 8th September, 2025 until the issues are addressed,” the Union stated.
That the payment of second and third terms school fees subsidies for last school year and first term of this school year 2025/2026 should be addressed.
That government should ensure prompt payment of school fees subsidies at the commencement of every school term.
That government should rectify non-payment, under-payment and other anomalies in the payment of school fees subsidies.
The Union furthered that government should review the current amount paid per pupil as school fees subsidy to reflect the current economic and inflationary trend in the country, for subsequent school terms.
That for effective teaching and learning in the schools to enhance quality education government should, with immediate effect, resume the supply of teaching and learning materials that have not been provided for the last three years.
