By Diana Veronica Fillie
The Principal of Milton Comprehensive Junior Secondary School, Albert Rashid Sam, has made an urgent appeal to the Government of Sierra Leone to immediately release outstanding school subsidies for the 2025/2026 academic year, warning that continued delays are seriously affecting school operations ahead of the forthcoming Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
Mr. Sam disclosed that the school is facing severe financial difficulties in preparing pupils for the examination, paying staff allowances, and settling outstanding debts due to delays in subsidy disbursement. According to him, the funds “have not been coming in as expected.”
The school currently has an enrollment of 956 pupils, comprising 512 girls and 444 boys, making it one of the largest junior secondary schools in Bo District. Out of its 32 teaching and administrative staff members, four teachers are yet to be placed on the government payroll, leaving the school administration responsible for raising funds to pay their monthly stipends.
Mr. Sam revealed that the school’s approved annual subsidy allocation stands at Le153,263, but for the current academic year, only Le40,000 has been received for the first term.
He outlined several challenges resulting from the delay, including difficulties in procuring stationery, paying non-payroll teachers, and repairing broken furniture. He stressed that such essential responsibilities become increasingly difficult when subsidies are not released on time.
The principal expressed concern that the funding gap is negatively affecting preparations for the BECE. “We are preparing pupils for the Basic Education Certificate Examination while at the same time owing vendors who supply essential materials to the school,” he stated.
Mr. Sam warned that unless the second and third term subsidies are urgently released, the school’s capacity to organize effective revision classes, provide examination materials, and maintain a conducive learning environment would be seriously undermined.
Despite the financial strain, he commended the monitoring role played by the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education and the Anti-Corruption Commission in ensuring accountability in the management of school funds.
“Though the monies are meager and often delayed, the monitoring mechanisms to ensure accountability cannot be overstated,” he said. “We understand the need for transparency. Every Leone is accounted for, and we are prepared for scrutiny at any time.”
Mr. Sam, who also serves as the Public Relations Officer for the Conference of Principals in Bo District, extended the appeal beyond his school, noting that many schools across the country are grappling with similar challenges.
The Government of Sierra Leone introduced school subsidies under the Free Quality School Education Programme to ease the financial burden on parents and provide schools with operational support. However, delays in the disbursement of funds continue to generate complaints among school authorities nationwide, particularly in provincial districts.
As the third term progresses and the BECE draws closer, schools such as Milton Comprehensive JSS say they are increasingly forced to improvise, often at the expense of quality education and staff welfare.