APC MP Criticizes Decline in Education
By Musa Paul Feika
The Parliamentary Spokesman of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC), Hon. Dr. Umpha Gbessay Koroma, has expressed grave concern over what he describes as the “drastic fall” in the standard of education under President Julius Maada Bio’s Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) administration.
Appearing on the Frontpage program aired on Africa Young Voices (AYV) Television on Monday, 8th September 2025, the opposition lawmaker criticized the government’s flagship Free Quality Education (FQE) initiative, arguing that it prioritizes “results over process” and has failed to address systemic challenges undermining the sector.
Dr. Koroma highlighted that many tertiary institutions and universities now require entrance examinations for students seeking admission a practice he said reflects the deteriorating quality of secondary education in the country. “If pupils are completing secondary school but cannot secure admission without an additional exam, that alone tells us that the education system is collapsing,” he emphasized.
The APC spokesman also drew attention to the welfare of teachers, stressing that no education system can thrive if its educators are poorly motivated. He called on the government to review teachers’ conditions of service, provide timely salaries, and improve incentive structures. “When teachers are supported and valued, they can deliver the quality outcomes our children deserve,” he noted.
Furthermore, Dr. Koroma encouraged teachers to proactively engage with the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education and other relevant authorities by communicating their challenges openly. He pledged that as opposition, the APC will continue to use parliamentary debates, press conferences, and public engagements to hold the government accountable and advocate for urgent reforms in the education sector.
He concluded by warning that without swift intervention, the much-celebrated Free Quality Education program risks becoming a hollow slogan rather than a transformative policy.
