By Emma Black
After nearly a week of nationwide industrial action, the Sierra Leone Teachers Union (SLTU) has officially instructed teachers to return to classrooms starting today, Monday, 15th September 2025. The decision follows intensive negotiations with government officials, including the Vice President, aimed at addressing long-standing grievances over unpaid subsidies and suspended teacher salaries.
The SLTU, alongside its sub-associations the Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (CPSS), National Council of Head Teachers (NaCOHT), Council of Heads of Technical and Vocational Institutions (CHTVI), and the Nursery Schools Association (NSA) hanked members for their unity and solidarity during the strike, which began on 8th September.
Union officials noted that the industrial action triggered urgent consultations with the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education and the Teaching Service Commission. Chaired by the Vice President, these discussions resulted in several commitments from the government, including:
School fee subsidies for the second and third terms of the 2024/2025 academic year have been disbursed to most schools nationwide. Institutions that remain unpaid or underpaid are urged to submit reports to their respective district union offices for follow-up.
Of the 4,662 teachers previously suspended from the payroll, 1,802 have now received salaries for July and August. An additional 325 teachers are expected to be paid in September, including backlogged payments. Verification for remaining teachers is ongoing.
A joint committee has been established, coordinated by the Office of the Vice President and comprising the Ministries of Education and Finance, the Teaching Service Commission, and SLTU, to address all outstanding issues.
Following an emergency consultative meeting on Friday, union leaders resolved to suspend the strike and resume teaching activities. SLTU President Ibrahim B. Kargbo emphasized the importance of monitoring the implementation of government promises and ensuring that all legitimate teachers are fully reinstated and compensated.
The union also acknowledged the support of the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security, the Sierra Leone Labour Congress, and other allied organizations during the standoff.
As schools prepare to reopen, SLTU is urging teachers to continue their service with dedication and professionalism, while remaining vigilant on the follow-through of the government’s commitments.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 15th September, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
