A Call to Regulate and Standardize Private Schools in Sierra Leone
By Saidu Koroma
Educationist & The President for Sierra Leone Young Leaders Movement for Democratic Change (SLYLMDC)
Across Sierra Leone today, private schools are springing up on nearly every street—wedged between shops, occupying converted living rooms, or squeezed into congested structures with little regard for the well-being of children. On the surface, this expansion suggests educational progress. But beneath the numbers lies a troubling reality: many private schools are operating far below the standards necessary to nurture healthy, confident, and well-rounded learners.
This growing crisis demands urgent national attention.
The Neglected Crisis in Private Education
Education is not simply the act of teaching and taking examinations. True education is a holistic process that shapes a child academically, socially, emotionally, culturally, and physically. Yet, too many private schools lack the very facilities that make such development possible.
Across the country, children are learning in schools with:
No playfield or open space
No basketball or volleyball court
No hall for music, drama, or cultural activities
No art room or creative space
Poor ventilation and overcrowded classrooms
No safe environment for recreational or social interaction
This is not an isolated concern—it is an everyday experience for thousands of Sierra Leonean children.
International bodies such as UNESCO, UNICEF, and the African Union have consistently emphasised the need for holistic education as the foundation for national development. Children must be allowed to create, explore, collaborate, and build confidence. But how can this be achieved when schools are reduced to “examination factories” rather than centres for growth and talent discovery?
Facilities Are Not Luxuries — They Are Educational Rights
A football field is not merely a recreational space; it builds teamwork, discipline, and physical health.
A hall for drama, debate, and music is not optional; it develops confidence, emotional intelligence, public-speaking skills, and cultural identity.
A playground is not a luxury; it is part of childhood development.
When a school lacks these facilities, it robs children of crucial opportunities to grow into balanced and productive adults.
We cannot claim to be building a 21st-century education system while allowing children to learn in restrictive and uninspiring environments.
Youth Unemployment and Social Vices Begin in the Classroom
Sierra Leone is battling rising youth unemployment, drug abuse, cultism, and other social vices. Studies across Africa show that when young people lack creative, physical, and expressive outlets during childhood, they become more vulnerable to destructive behaviours.
The truth is simple:
A child whose talents are stifled is far more likely to become a frustrated youth.
Yet we have living examples of how talent—when nurtured—can transform lives and contribute to national development:
Mohamed Kallon rose to global prominence through football
Jimmy B, Steady Bongo, and Kao Denero shaped Sierra Leone’s entertainment landscape
At his 2009/2010 album launch, Kao Denero generated over 200 million Leones in gate takings alone
These successes did not emerge from academic degrees, but from raw talent that was discovered, developed, and valued.
Imagine how many more Kallons or Kao Deneros Sierra Leone could produce if every school provided the basic facilities needed for talent discovery.
Why Regulation Is Now an Urgent National Imperative
The uncontrolled rise of substandard private schools may appear harmless, but it poses long-term national risks:
It widens inequality between children who can access modern facilities and those who cannot
It weakens the future workforce by producing learners with limited social, physical, and creative skills
It perpetuates a colonial-style education system focused solely on memorisation rather than innovation
It hinders national competitiveness in a globalised, digital world
A country cannot industrialise or modernise with underdeveloped children.
To prepare Sierra Leone for 2035, 2040, and beyond, we must ensure every child receives a balanced and well-rounded education—regardless of whether they attend a private or public school.
A Clear Call to the Ministry of Education
Honourable Minister, the solution is clear, practical, and long overdue.
The Ministry must develop and enforce mandatory minimum standards for all private schools, including:
- A small football field or open play area
- A basketball or volleyball court
- A hall for cultural, dramatic, and creative activities
- Safe recreational and social spaces
- Regular inspection and licensing reviews
- A curriculum that integrates sports, arts, music, drama, and creativity
Countries like Rwanda, Ghana, Kenya, and Botswana have implemented similar regulations—and their educational outcomes continue to improve. Sierra Leone must not be left behind.
Building a Generation Fit for the Future
The children sitting in our classrooms today will shape Sierra Leone’s workforce, leadership, and economy in the coming decades. If they grow up in restrictive environments without creative or physical development, we are failing them—and failing the nation.
Holistic education is not:
a luxury,
an afterthought, or
an optional addition.
It is an economic strategy, a security strategy, and a development strategy.
We cannot combat unemployment, crime, or social decay without first giving children opportunities to grow their talents, build confidence, and discover purpose.
The Time to Act Is Now
Honourable Minister, Sierra Leone stands at a defining moment.
Regulating and standardising private schools is not an act of punishment, but an act of protection—protection for our children, our society, and our future.
If we invest in the full development of every child today, we will build a more creative, productive, peaceful, and prosperous Sierra Leone tomorrow.
The nation is watching.
The children deserve better.
The future demands it.
Saidu Koroma
Educationist & The President for Sierra Leone Young Leaders Movement for Democratic Change (SLYLMDC).
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 3th December 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
