Procurement Debacle Hinders Free Quality Education Progress

The flagship Free Education project of President Julius Maada Bio is facing significant challenges, primarily due to a prolonged procurement process for the supply of solar-powered tablets intended for 6,061 schools across Sierra Leone. Regrettably, it appears that the project’s progress is being strangled by the actions of two individuals: Mr. Mohamed Kallon, the Procurement Specialist, and Mr. Ambrose T. Sesay, the Project Coordinator of the Free Education Project Secretariat, who is also the brother-in-law of the Chief Minister.

Questions surrounding Mr. Sesay’s employment as Project Coordinator have been raised repeatedly. Many of the projects executed under his leadership, including the construction of schools and hostels, have come under scrutiny due to questionable practices. Notably, the World Bank has deemed certain initiatives, such as the construction of three hostels in Pujehun, Kailahun, and Bonthe, as “not fit for purpose.” Specifically, these hostels were meant to provide accommodation for students residing far from their schools; however, they were built in isolated locations, exposing vulnerable students to additional risks and dangers.

Adding to the troubling narrative is the ongoing procurement of high-end printers and toners for the teachers’ licensing program. This matter has been challenged by a bidder and is currently being litigated in the High Court of Sierra Leone. The situation has resulted in serious setbacks for the teachers’ licensing initiative, particularly as it has come to light that the contractor awarded the contract did not participate in the bidding process—raising further concerns about transparency and integrity.

Compounding these issues, delays in procuring teaching and learning materials for Primary One have been so considerable that the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) resorted to printing teacher’s guides in black and white to facilitate training sessions. Hence, schools are set to open this year without students receiving essential learning materials—an outcome stemming from the apparent selfishness of just two individuals.

Most disturbingly, the procurement of solar-powered tablets for over 6,000 schools has been stalled, even though the World Bank has granted a “no objection” to award the contract to the most responsive bidder. Despite this, Messrs. Kallon and Sesay appear intent on manipulating the process towards cancellation, insisting that the Ministry of Communication and Technology test a sample that was not provided by the winning bidder. The request to test a device that was not part of the original proposal raises serious questions, particularly following the evaluation of the bidders’ submissions.

This situation serves as a wake-up call for all authorities involved to investigate the factors causing the delays in these crucial procurements. The ongoing setbacks are not only undermining the President’s educational agenda, but they are also depriving millions of children of necessary resources and support. It is vital for our officials to act decisively and ensure that educational initiatives are implemented promptly and transparently, enabling students across Sierra Leone to have access to the quality education they rightfully deserve.