Sierra Leone News: Govt Defers Reopening of Schools

By Stephen V. Lansana

The government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education has on Tuesday August 20, 2019, postponed the reopening of schools to September 16, 2019.

It could be recalled that the government earlier announced that schools will reopen on Monday September 2, 2019, but it has been delayed for two weeks following concerns raised by school authorities.

The ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that, it attention has been drawn to concerns raised by certain heads of schools over the date released by this Ministry for the reopening of schools, which should be September 2, 2019. According to the Ministry, one of the concerns raised by stakeholders has to do with the damage done to schools by the recent flash floods which swept some parts of the city, Freetown and is environs.

The Chief Education Officer of the Ministry, Dr. Alhaji Mohamed Kamara said in a statement that other school authorities have cited the delay in releasing the National Primary School Examination (NPSE) results; the conduct of the usual placement meeting for pupils entering Junior Secondary Schools and the accompanying interviews usually conducted by schools for new enrollments.

In view of this, the leadership of the Ministry, after consultation with the relevant stakeholders, such as the Conference of Principals of Secondary schools (CPSS) the West African Examinations Councils WAEC) and members of the Ministry’s Standards Committee, has resolved that the reopening of schools for the 2019/2020 school year is now stated for Monday September 16, 2019.

The Ministry said that the delay is in the interest of the pupils as final beneficiaries and the education system in general. “We are therefore sorry for any inconvenience this change may have caused the pupils and parents alike,” the Ministry said in a statement.