‘NLe10 Cannot Even Buy Lunch’ - SLTU Boss Pushes for NLe100 School Subsidy

Sierra Leone Teachers Union (SLTU) President Ibrahim Bankapoma Kargbo has called for an increase in the government’s school subsidy, saying the current NLe10 per child per term is insufficient to meaningfully support schools.

Kargbo made the remarks while speaking on AYV’s State of the Nation, where he discussed government support for schools, challenges facing teachers and the implementation of the Free Quality School Education programme.

“The government pays NLe10 per child per term, which you cannot even give to your child as lunch.”

Kargbo proposed that the subsidy be increased to NLe100 per child and applied across both primary and secondary schools.

“A subsidy of Le100 per child would be better if the government could provide it across the board for both primary and secondary schools.”

He said several schools have complained about delays in receiving government subsidies, noting that the problem creates additional pressure on school administrators.

According to Kargbo, principals face pressure from community teachers and other subsidiary staff when government support is delayed.

“Principals are always under pressure from community teachers and subsidiary staff when the government fails to pay subsidies on time.”

Kargbo also said that if he were running a public school and the government allowed him to charge a fee, he would set it at NLe100 across the different levels of the school system.

Despite his concerns about school financing and delayed subsidies, Kargbo gave a positive assessment of the government’s performance, saying President Julius Maada Bio’s administration deserves a 75 percent rating.

“We need to give President Bio’s government something like a 75% rating.”

He stressed that the subsidy issue was only one aspect of the education sector and acknowledged what he described as significant achievements by the government.

Kargbo further raised concerns about the pressure created by delays in government support, particularly for schools that rely on community teachers and subsidiary staff to maintain their operations.

He also described teachers’ salaries as a “recipe for corruption,” highlighting concerns around the broader management and financing of the education sector.

Kargbo said improving the level and timely payment of subsidies would help reduce pressure on school administrators and provide better support for schools across the country.