I suppose Sierra Leone is currently operating under a ‘Free Education System,’ but contrary to Government’s intention, heartless school authorities continue to extort and exploit poor parents on daily basis thereby sabotaging the government, thus changing the concept to an ‘Expensive Free Education System.’
It is no secret that these heartless and saboteur school authorities are devising new plans on a daily basis to the disadvantage of parents and students through excessive demands on unnecessary, or better still unwarranted activities’s fees.
It is even pathetic to note that the increasing number in school activities introduced by school authorities have immensely contributed to the degrading standard of education in the country.
Apart from these new activities that rob parents of their hard earned resources, compulsory school activities that include games and sports have lost their taste since school authorities are now capitalizing on these activities as escape roots to extort money from students and parents.
This ‘Free Education System’ seems to implore all the barriers to quality education that the previous educational system deplored thereby creating the enabling environment for the degrading standard in education.
The former system of education in this country was maybe expensive but at least standards were maintained unlike the present ‘Free Education System’ that is based on quantity education.
Under this ‘Free Education System,’ illegal fees have increased as students are now required to pay examination fees before taking tests. They are also required to pay marking fees before the test scripts are marked, and above all pay other fees before test results are released. Was this a common practice or occurrence in the past system of education? Of course not.
What of extra classes that have now become part of normal school curriculum. Teachers now dedicate their service to extra classes (with students for whom they are being paid to teach during normal school hours) totally ignoring school schedules. Are they trying to make people believe that syllabuses are now so broad to the extent that certain topics cannot be covered during normal school hours?
Even Prize Givings and Thanksgiving ceremonies that were formerly highly graced by students have now become difficult for them as these activities are now heavily tasked under this ‘Free Education System.’
On the other hand, if a parent affords paying this exorbitant charge, the child might seek the ugly choice of not participating. It might however be disgusting to anyone reading this piece to understand that these children face punishment in the hands of these heartless school authorities for non participation in these costly events.
What are these school authorities turning the ‘Free Education System’ to? With all these extortions in schools, this is definitely not the true meaning of Free Education. Or are they trying to make people assume that they do not understand the meaning of FREE EDUCATION?
Well Mr. Government, if some or all of these extortions that I have highlighted above presently demoralizing parents and students are the meaning of your ‘Free Education System,’ then the need for a reverse in this system abounds.
This present situation in our schools is most definitely not in consonance with what free education entails. If only the concept of Free Education is to achieve it intended purpose, it needs to be treated with all seriouness attached. Teachers needs to be adequately paid, schools need to be provided will learning materials and school buses should be provided among others. Mr. Government, do something now. It is better late than never.
By Abdul Fonti
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