SLTU President Urges Govt To Prioritize Education & Avert A Crisis
By John Kelly Marah
According to Ibrahim Bankopama Bangura, President of the Sierra Leone Teachers Union (SLTU), the government must urgently prioritize education, emphasizing that as a flagship programme, it deserves sustained attention and commitment.
Speaking during an interview with journalists, Bangura appreciated the role of the media in amplifying national concerns while calling on the government to take practical steps toward resolving pressing issues affecting the education sector.
“We appreciate the good work journalists continue to do. The message we want to send to government is clear—education is a flagship programme and must be treated with urgency and priority,” he stated.
Bangura criticized delays in the provision of teaching and learning materials, stressing that government should not wait for years before supplying schools with the resources necessary for effective learning.
He also expressed concerns over delays in the payment of school fee subsidies, maintaining that if education is truly regarded as a flagship programme, financial support to schools must be timely and consistent.
Furthermore, he urged government to engage teachers on salary concerns and conditions of service without unnecessary delays.
“Government should not allow time to pass before engaging teachers on salaries and working conditions. These issues must be prioritized because education is central to national development,” he stressed.
Drawing comparisons with the operations of the union, Bangura noted that the SLTU treats its own priority programmes seriously by ensuring allocations are made monthly.
“As a union, we have flagship programmes that are prioritized in our monthly budget after salaries, allowances, and statutory payments. We do not joke with these priorities, and government must adopt the same seriousness toward education,” he said.
The union leader further emphasized that teachers do not celebrate strike actions, describing industrial action as a painful last resort.
“We are not happy to go on strike because our own children attend public and government-assisted schools and are equally affected. Teachers also feel the impact. However, when every effort fails, strike action becomes the final option available to us,” Bangura concluded.
He therefore called on government to prioritize education funding and proactively address teachers’ concerns to prevent disruptions in the country’s education system.
