Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698829845400.pdf (Sierra Leone)
PARLIAMENT BUILDING OAU DRIVE, TOWER HILL FREETOWN E-mail: sierraleoneparliament@hotmail.com/admin@parliament.gov.sl 27th October 2020 PRESS RELEASE PARLIAMENT APPROVES $40 MILLION LOAN AGREEMENTS FOR EDUCATION The Parliament of Sierra Leone has on Tuesday 27th October 2020 debated and approved with unanimity a $40 Million loan agreement for the educational sector of the country.

The following loan agreements were approved by Parliament: 1.
Loan Agreement Between the Republic of Sierra Leone and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), Dated 19th October 2019 and 2.

Loan Agreement Between the Republic of Sierra Leone and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), Dated 17th November 2019.
Presenting both loan agreements to Parliament prior to ratification, the Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Patricia Laverley said the loan agreements are aimed at implementing the education project for 2020 and 2021 in order to achieve higher quality education in the country in light of human capital development.

Dr. Laverley also said that the project would be focusing on the rehabilitation and construction of schools and colleges in some parts of the country.
The Deputy Minister said Bunumbu Teachers College, MMCET Goderich and Congo Cross campuses would benefit from these loan agreements through their expansion projects and Government Secondary School in Magburaka, Bo Government School, Government Secondary School Kenema and Prince of Wales would be rehabilitated and maintained.

Speaking to the motion, Chairman of Finance Committee, Hon.

Francis Amara Kai- Samba described the loan agreements as “simple and straight agreement”.
He recalled that government had allocated 21% of the national budget to the free quality education which is a flagship project of the government whilst speaking on its attendant contributions to human capital development in the country.

The Opposition Whip, Hon.

Hassan Sesay reaffirmed that the agreement is “non-controversial”, and appreciated the efforts of the government for seeking these loan agreements for the development of the education sector in the country.
He called for the project to be executed for its intended purposes.

On his part, Hon.

Joseph Williams Lamin, supported the loan agreements and noted that, it is “non-controversial”, and appealed for Koyeama Government School in Bo District to benefit from subsequent project.

In her contribution to the debate, Hon.

Veronica Kadie Sesay commended President Bio for the loan agreements in light of supporting the education sector and said it is very timely and essential for the development of Sierra Leone.
She pleaded for remote allowances for teachers in the rural areas in order to attract more experienced teachers to serve in the provinces and thanked donor partners for supporting the sector in the country.

She supported the rehabilitation of Koyeama Government School and that of the Government Matora Secondary School for Girls in Magburaka, Tonkolili District.

Hon.
Hon.

Lahai Marah said Billions of Leones have been expended on education and that everything is just centered on education and spoke on the need for government to assess and monitor the implementation of the free quality education.

He blamed government for the deplorable state of government primary schools across the country and called for proper assessment and accountability relating to the free quality education scheme as well as subsidies for schools.

Hon.
Hon.

Marah questioned the two million dollars consultancy fee on the project and three thousand fiver hundred dollars payment per month for the project coordinator.

Hon.

Bash Kamara of SLPP said the rural schools must be improved to catch up with their counterparts in the urban areas and emphasized on the challenges faced by Koyeama Government Secondary School, which he said “is starving from government support”.

In his contribution, Hon.


Paul Saa Sam of C4C acknowledged the intervention of the government in support of the free quality education and emphasized the need for the total support of the schools in rural communities.

On his part, Leader of NGC, Hon.

Dr. Kandeh Yumkella said the agreement is targeting human capital development whilst speaking on the importance of improving education in our rural communities.
He called for proper assessment of the education sector and monitoring and implementation of the project.

In rounding up the debate, Leader of Opposition, Hon.

Chernor R.M.

Bah said that debate has been touching because it has to do with the government’s flagship program.

He said the free quality education is on its embryonic stage and called on all to support to scheme to succeed.
He advised all not to politicize the free quality education and urged government to continuously monitor and supervise the implementation of this project which would serve as a catalyst in respect of boosting success to the free education programme which has been introduced and implemented by government.

Concluding the debate, the Acting Leader of Government Business, Hon.
Bashiru Silikie thanked colleague MPs for their brilliant contributions and noted that he is very pleased with these agreements aimed at promoting the free quality education scheme in the country.

He also acknowledged the challenges highlighted by colleague MPs in respect of the free quality education.
He said to achieve quality education; there should be well-trained, qualified and incentivized teachers who should be recruited by government to attract successful outcomes regarding the implementation of the scheme.

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