President Bio Named GPE Champion for Education Financing

Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone, has received international recognition for his leadership in advancing education financing, even as new data highlights persistent challenges in gender equality within the country’s education system.

Earlier this week, on March 11, the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) officially designated President Bio as a “Champion for Sustainable Education Financing.” The recognition acknowledges his government’s commitment to allocating 22 percent of the national budget to education, one of the highest proportions globally.

In his 2026 New Year address, President Bio described the year as a “Year of Action,” signalling his administration’s intention to accelerate reforms and investments aimed at strengthening the education sector. The recognition by the GPE is seen as an endorsement of the government’s continued prioritization of education as a key driver of national development.

However, new data released by the UNESCO indicates that significant challenges remain, particularly in ensuring gender parity in school completion rates. According to the data, while school enrollment in Sierra Leone remains relatively high, only 12.5 percent of girls complete senior secondary school, compared to 20.4 percent of boys.

Education stakeholders say the figures highlight the need for targeted interventions to address barriers that prevent girls from completing their education, including poverty, early marriage, and limited access to schools in rural communities.

To address these disparities and improve planning in the education sector, the government is leveraging advanced technology through the 2026 Population and Housing Census, which has officially begun its digital mapping phase. The process will use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to identify underserved communities and ensure that schools and other essential resources are strategically located where they are most needed, particularly in rural areas.

Authorities say the data gathered through the census will play a critical role in guiding policy decisions and resource allocation, strengthening the government’s efforts to expand access to quality education and close the gender gap in school completion across Sierra Leone