By Mohamed Kamara
One growing concern in both public and private schools, particularly across the Western Urban and Western Rural Districts, is the increasing number of financial contributions demanded from parents through their children. On an almost daily basis, pupils are given envelopes for Muslim and Christian contributions, while parents are also required to provide funds for toilet rolls, brooms, soap, photocopied pamphlets, printing materials, examination result fees, and levies for tests and examinations.
In many schools, parents are additionally asked to make compulsory contributions toward rebuilding school walls, gates, and other infrastructure. What has become an accepted but troubling practice has placed a significant financial burden on parents and guardians already struggling with the rising cost of living.
Headteachers and principals of both junior and senior secondary schools interviewed by this medium in the eastern, central, and western parts of Freetown acknowledged the frequency of these requests. While accepting some responsibility, many school administrators expressed gratitude for the support provided by parents, arguing that schools are increasingly dependent on such contributions to meet basic operational needs.
Further investigations revealed that the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, often blamed for the situation, has in turn pointed to delays and challenges involving the Ministry of Finance. Reports from the provinces indicate that many communities are now contributing financially to maintain schools and support growing educational demands.
Particularly affected are schools staffed by teachers who have not yet been assigned payroll pin codes, forcing many to travel long distances from their home communities while working without regular salaries.
Madam Mariatu Turay of Mountain Cut described the situation as “an annual repetition of the same excuses that parents have become accustomed to.” According to her, teachers are also facing severe economic challenges and can no longer survive comfortably on their incomes.
She noted that, with the exception of some Catholic schools, educational institutions operated by other denominations have become increasingly dependent on parental contributions. Madam Turay recommended that school subventions be treated as a guaranteed annual subsidy to educational institutions.
She further argued that while the government continues to highlight the achievements of the Free Quality Education (FQE) programme, many citizens believe the initiative has also created new financial pressures for households. According to her, the hidden costs associated with schooling have resulted in unprecedented domestic hardships for many parents and guardians across the country.
