State House Director Describes Education Under APC as ‘Shameful,’ Highlights Current Reforms

Myk Berewa, Director of Communications in the Office of the President, has described the state of education under the former APC administration as “shameful,” contrasting it with reforms implemented under the SLPP government led by President Julius Maada Bio.

Speaking on Slik TV, Berewa noted that while public discussions continue over issues such as delays in school subsidies, unpaid teacher allowances, and differences in private and government school performance, the challenges under the APC were far more severe.

“Education under the APC was shameful in this country,” Berewa said, emphasizing the significant improvements and increased focus on access and enrollment under the current administration.

Under the SLPP’s Free Quality Education programme, the government has substantially increased the national education budget to over 20% and expanded enrollment, reaching more than two million additional students. In comparison, the APC initially allocated only 3% of the national budget for education during the Tejan Kabbah administration, though allocations rose to 15% by the end of the Ernest Bai Koroma era.

Despite these reforms, stakeholders continue to raise concerns about infrastructure capacity, overcrowded classrooms, and the sustainability of school feeding programmes.

Berewa’s remarks underscore the contrast between the previous administration’s shortcomings and the current government’s initiatives, while acknowledging that challenges in education remain part of the public discourse.