Freetown, Sierra Leone – In a swift response to a case highlighting widespread misinformation in the education sector, Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Conrad Sesay has personally intervened to ensure a young BECE candidate, Abubakarr Jalloh, returns to the classroom after his schooling was halted due to erroneous advice given to his family.
The incident came to light when Abubakarr’s mother, Famata Sesay, was falsely told she had to pay a fee of NLe 4,000 to guarantee her son’s spot in a government-run school.
Minister Sesay strongly denounced such practices, emphasizing that placements in public institutions are entirely free and no parent should ever be coerced into making payments for this purpose.
According to ministry officials, Abubakarr achieved an aggregate score of 18 in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). While this fell short of the cut-off mark of 16 required for his first-choice institution, Albert Academy, the national automated placement system is designed to allocate eligible students to alternative approved schools based on their performance and availability.
However, concerns over the distance to Abubakarr’s assigned second-choice school, combined with the misleading fee demand, led the family to keep him at home. It wasn’t until local community advocates stepped in, urging the family to seek official assistance and raising awareness about the situation, that the matter gained traction.
In a meeting at the ministry, Sesay hosted Abubakarr and his mother alongside senior education leaders to address the issue directly.
“We are committed to getting this child back in school without delay,” the minister stated, reassuring the public that appropriate enrollment arrangements are underway.
Sesay also called on all parents and guardians facing similar challenges to reach out proactively.
“Don’t hesitate to contact us through the Education Call Centre at 8060 for guidance and support,” he advised, underscoring the importance of official channels to combat misinformation and ensure every child’s right to education is upheld.
This case underscores ongoing efforts by the ministry to streamline school placements and protect families from exploitation, amid broader calls for transparency in Sierra Leone’s education system.
