By Michael Alusine Turay | Education Secretary
In Sierra Leone, the beginning of the Academic year is a time of special financial challenges as parents struggle to pay tuition, buy uniforms, shoes and learning and teacher materials. Even with free quality education programs sponsored by the Government of Sierra Leone, parents in villages without EduNations schools are still challenged by having to buy uniforms and other learning materials that could cost a total of $250 per student. In a country where average per capita income is on the order of $500 per year[1] this is simply impossible and parents cannot afford to send their children to school.
So you can imagine why there were such big celebrations in each of the six communities with an EduNations school where children receive tuition and school supplies free, thanks to your generosity. From village paramount chiefs on down, people gathered to jubilantly express their thanks and appreciations to EduNations. Paramount chiefs and other leaders said they were especially grateful this year when the world is facing so many challenges and Sierra Leone is experiencing rapid price-inflation at more than double the rate in the US.[2]
This year 3,040 students were super excited when they each received supplies including school uniforms, exercise books, pens, pencils and erasers (or erasable slates for nursery students), a ruler, and even a box of crayons! For students in developed countries, these supplies are more or less a given, but in Sierra Leone receiving them is a big deal. Teachers and administrators also get refreshed supplies and, of course, well-designed lesson plans to help students advance.
On behalf of the EduNations staff in Sierra Leone, we join the families and the people of Sierra Leone to express our sincere appreciation to the donors and Board of EduNations for their relentless support to these under-resourced communities and say ‘TENKI’.
[1] MacroTrends.com.
[2] World Data’s estimate of 2021 consumer price inflation rate in Sierra Leone as 12% vs 5% for the US.
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