The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) wishes to inform the general public that, it has today Friday, 3rd November, 2023, held discussions with the Principals of Senior Secondary Schools and other School Authorities in the Conference Hall of Integrity House, Tower Hill, Freetown, on the issue of the levying of School charges contrary to the policy of the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) and the Anti-Corruption Act 2000 as amended in 2019, following the release of the Basic Education and Certificate Examination (BECE) Results and the quest for admissions in Senior Secondary Schools by parents and guardians.
Speaking at a meeting, the Deputy Commissioner ACC, Augustine Foday Ngobie, drew their attention to Section 128 (3) of the Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Act of 2019, which states that; “A person who engages in corrupt activity or practice, in a programme organized or conducted by an educational institution or examination body, to confer advantage on himself or another person commits an offence”.
The Deputy Commissioner also said that these acts were contrary to the established position of the Commission and the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, which has published the APPROVED Government of Sierra Leone Charges for all services and products in public schools.
Therefore, the Commission reiterates its position that school authorities must not demand or accept any form of ADVANTAGE or BRIBE from parents or guardians, nor impose charges that are outside the approved charges of the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education.
All school authorities across the country are reminded and cautioned that on receipt of any report of strong evidence of extortion and levy of illegal charges in schools, the Commission will swiftly move in, arrest, investigate and prosecute accordingly.
In that regard, the public is encouraged to make complaints or reports to the ACC, at its Headquarter Office, Tower Hill, in Freetown, 10 Bo-Pujehun Drive, Kebbie Town in Bo, Reservation Road, Off Maxwell Khobe Street in Kenema, Mena Hills in Makeni, 18 Sannsie Street, Off Kainkordu Road, Koidu, and 13 Sheriffa Street, Port Loko City; or on the hotlines, 077-985-985 and 077-986-986.
Meanwhile, the ACC wishes to further reassure the public of its undeterred commitment to controlling corruption at all levels in Sierra Leone.
For further enquires on this and other ACC matters, please contact Sylvanus Blake, Public Relations Officer on +232-78-832131 or via email info@anticorruption.gov.sl.
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PATRICK SANDI
DIRECTOR, PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
