Sierra Leonean Students in Cuba, Venezuela Struggle Due to Delayed Allowances

By Benjamin S. Conteh

Sierra Leonean students studying in Cuba and Venezuela are facing severe hardships as a result of delays in receiving their student allowances from the Ministry of Tertiary Education. Despite multiple appeals, the students continue to endure the financial strain, which has significantly affected their living conditions, particularly with respect to accommodation, food, and other essential needs.

In an interview with Voice of Salone newspaper, several students expressed their deep frustration with the Ministry’s failure to disburse the allowances, despite repeated assurances. “Earlier this year, the Ministry of Tertiary Education asked us to submit all relevant documents related to our studies in Cuba and Venezuela, so they could process our allowances. We complied and submitted everything, but months have passed, and there’s still no payment,” one student explained. According to them, multiple follow-up meetings with the Ministry have led nowhere, leaving them uncertain about their financial future.

The scholarships under which these students are studying were granted by the governments of Cuba and Venezuela in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone. Most of the beneficiaries are pursuing medical degrees, with the aim of contributing to the healthcare system in Sierra Leone upon completion of their studies. As part of the scholarship agreement, each student is entitled to an annual allowance of $1,800, meant to cover basic living expenses such as accommodation and meals. In previous years, the students received their allowances without issue, but this year has proven different, with no payments made, leaving the students struggling to cope with rising inflation and living costs in their host countries.

The delays have had severe consequences for the students, who now face difficulties in maintaining adequate living conditions. With prices for basic goods and services escalating daily in Cuba and Venezuela, students are forced to rely on scarce resources to manage their expenses. In some cases, they have had to take on part-time jobs or rely on external help to make ends meet, all while keeping up with their rigorous academic programs.

Parents of the affected students have also voiced their concerns. Several parents have made efforts to communicate with the Ministry of Tertiary Education, seeking clarity on why the allowances have not been paid. The Ministry has consistently responded with vague reassurances, promising that the disbursement of student allowances will follow the payment of civil servant salaries. Despite these promises, no concrete action has been taken to resolve the matter.

The parents are becoming increasingly worried, not only for their children’s education but also for their wellbeing. “It’s a difficult situation,” said one parent. “Our children are in foreign countries, far from home, and they don’t have the means to support themselves properly. The Ministry keeps saying they’ll make the payments, but nothing happens. We fear this will affect their studies and their health.”

The situation has drawn criticism from various quarters, as the delays in paying student allowances highlight broader issues of financial mismanagement within the Ministry. Observers are questioning why the payment of allowances has been pushed to the sidelines, especially when these students are representing the future of Sierra Leone’s medical sector. There are calls for the government to take immediate action to ensure that these students, who are studying in challenging circumstances far from home, are not left unsupported.

In the midst of this crisis, the affected students have expressed a desire for transparency and a clear timeline from the Ministry regarding when their allowances will be paid. They are appealing to the government to resolve the matter quickly, as their financial and academic situations become increasingly precarious with each passing day.

For now, Sierra Leonean students in Cuba and Venezuela continue to wait, hoping that their plight will soon be addressed and that the Ministry will uphold its responsibilities to ensure their well-being.