The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) on the 11th March 2026 awarded H.E Rtd. Dr Julius Maada Bio as GPE Champion for Sustainable Financing for Education. Network AID Africa being passionate with one of it programmatic focus is education and livelihood and currently serve as the Vice Board Chair of Educational for All Coalition-the leading national coalition on education in Sierra Leone was invited to discuss on the topic: The International Luarel on Educational Budget and the Realities of Our Educational Sector in Sierra Leone at Epic Radio.
The Chief Country Coordinator of Network AID Africa who also doubles as Vice Baord Chair of EFAC-SL aknowledged the laurel giving the H.E Rtd. Dr. Julius Maada Bio as a gain to Sierra Leone and Afiica if not the world. He talked about the benefit it comes with such as recognistion at the global stage, schlarships, policy implementations, investment in education among others.
Mentioned that the countries needs to have optional public examination enties to allow pupils in high school to choose from when they reach to take public examination and disagrees with the mathamatics and English language set as core limiting pupils to pursue the full educational potential. WASCE and BECE are not determine where a pupil educational footprint stop.
He mentioned the challenges face by the education sector largely has do to with board of governors, school management committees that provide oversight and supervision are largely compromising government investment and quality. “ I have been asked by a school principal if me too believe in the free quality education”. We are having school heads (principals) undermining the free quality education yet collected salary from the 22% government allocation to education.
He concluded by recommending the following:
- Call for legislating the free quality education to ensure continueinty and obligatory.
- Policy for all public official to enroll their children in public school and seek medical treatment in government hospital to pay attention in public schools and hospitals (practice what you preach)
- Teach the children in his or her language to ensure comprehension.
- Expand digital education to all public schools
- Timely disbursement of school subsidies
