Freetown, 8th September 2025* – The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) has responded to the Sierra Leone Teachers Union (SLTU)’s planned nationwide strike scheduled for Monday, September 8.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Ministry acknowledged receipt of the strike notice and reaffirmed government’s commitment to addressing teachers’ grievances through dialogue and concrete actions.
Officials highlighted several measures already underway following an emergency meeting chaired by the Vice President on September 4. Among them is the payment of outstanding subsidies.
According to the Ministry, government transferred SLE 82.5 million in second- and third-term subsidies from last academic year to commercial banks on September 5, with receipts shared with the union.
Recruitment and deployment of teachers also featured prominently in the update. Authorities confirmed that a portion of the 2025 recruitment quota will be reserved for Technical and Vocational (Tech-Voc) teachers, while 70 percent of new hires will be directed to schools without PIN-coded teachers.
The government has also committed to reassessing 3,043 teachers approved in the 2025 budget. Of these, 1,000 reassessments are allocated to acting principals and head teachers, while 2,043 will go to acting vice principals, deputy heads nearing retirement, and other staff.
Additionally, a joint committee reporting directly to the Vice President has been tasked with reviewing wider issues such as subsidy funding formulas and allocations for teaching and learning materials.
The Ministry further revealed that 1,802 teachers have already been reinstated, and discussions are ongoing between the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) and the SLTU regarding the return of more suspended staff.
While acknowledging the crucial role of teachers in delivering the Free Quality School Education programme, MBSSE urged all stakeholders — including pupils, parents, and school authorities — to remain patient as government works toward a lasting resolution.
