The Sierra Leone Teachers Union (SLTU) has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the government, warning of a potential nationwide teachers’ strike over unresolved issues concerning unpaid school fees subsidies.
The SLTU sent a formal notice to the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, citing frustration with the government’s failure to release outstanding school fees subsidies for the third term of the 2023/2024 academic year and the first term of the 2024/2025 academic year.
In the notice, effective from Tuesday, November 5, 2024, the Union outlined key demands after consultations with school heads across Sierra Leone. These include:
1. Immediate Payment of Outstanding Subsidies: The SLTU is calling for the immediate release of unpaid school fees subsidies for the past two academic terms.
2. Prompt Termly Payments: The Union is also urging the government to ensure subsidies are paid at the beginning of each school term.
3. Correction of Payment Issues: The Union raised concerns about non-payment, underpayment, and other inconsistencies in subsidy payments.
4. Adjustment of Subsidy Amounts: They are demanding a review of the current subsidy amount per pupil to reflect current economic challenges and inflation rates.
5. Teacher Replacement by the Teaching Service Commission (TSC): The SLTU insists on replacing teachers lost due to retirement, abandonment, or death, with new hires placed in the schools where vacancies exist.
6. Resumption of Supply of Teaching and Learning Materials: The Union emphasized the need for essential teaching resources to support effective education.
The SLTU warns that if these demands are not met within the 21-day timeframe, teachers nationwide will initiate a strike by ceasing their duties. However, the Union has encouraged teachers to continue working diligently until the deadline.
The move comes amid increasing challenges for Sierra Leone’s education sector, including delayed payments, teacher shortages, and a lack of resources, all of which have hindered the delivery of quality education. The SLTU’s demands underscore the growing tension between the Union and the government over education funding, teacher shortages, and inadequate school infrastructure.
As the deadline approaches, the clock is ticking for the government to respond and avert a strike that could severely impact Sierra Leone’s education system.
Before you be any successful somebody in this world except you go through Teacher, I want the Government to have that at back of his mind.
I don’t know why Teachers are not value in this country,
Teacher will go to the university and came out good division and it will not be easy for him or her to be employed by the Government, but yes they are talking about free Education, they do not want improve on the condition of service for teachers.