*Lack of Proper School System
*Poor Energy Infrastructure
*Poor Healthcare
*Lack of Social Facilities
*Hardship
By Sylvester Samai
After taking power in 2018, President Julius Maada Bio launched several initiatives prominent among them was the Free Quality Education (FQE) initiative aimed at improving access to education by providing free schooling for children from pre-primary to senior secondary levels. While this initiative and others like energy supply, health care, and some other social facilities, infrastructure development were hailed by his party members and resonated with many Sierra Leoneans, it was a significant step forward, the implementation and sustainability has been a major challenge. All that Bio promised has fallen flat on the surface and it seems to be bleak even in his second tenure in office. These initiatives have faced several hurdles, including a lack of adequately trained teachers, overcrowded classrooms, and insufficient educational materials and other constraints.
The quality of education remains a critical issue. The country’s National Primary School Examination (NPSE) and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results often show a dismal pass rate, indicating that many students are not meeting the required standards. Factors contributing to this problem include poorly trained teachers, lack of infrastructure, and inadequate teaching materials.
Most schools in rural areas, in particular, struggle with these deficiencies. Teachers are often unqualified, and many lack the resources to engage students in meaningful learning activities. According to a UNESCO report, only 44 per cent of primary school teachers in Sierra Leone had the required qualifications as of 2022. This deficiency not only hampers the overall quality of education but also limits the country’s ability to produce a workforce capable of contributing to its development.
In addition to human resource challenges, the physical infrastructure of schools is in dire need of improvement. Many schools, particularly in rural areas, are in dilapidated conditions. They lack basic amenities such as electricity, water, and sanitation facilities, which affects students’ ability to learn in a conducive environment. Overcrowded classrooms, with student-teacher ratios often exceeding 70:1, make it difficult for teachers to provide individualised attention to students, further exacerbating learning difficulties.
Another major challenge within the education system is gender inequality. Although strides have been made in recent years to close the gender gap in education, girls, particularly in rural areas, still face significant barriers. Early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and cultural biases continue to limit girls’ access to education, with many dropping out before completing secondary school. Despite efforts by the government to promote gender parity through initiatives like the “Radical Inclusion” policy, much more needs to be done to ensure that girls can complete their education and have equal opportunities for success.
Energy is a critical driver of economic and social development, yet Sierra Leone’s energy sector is fraught with challenges. The country suffers from a chronic shortage of electricity, particularly in rural areas, where access to power is virtually non-existent. According to the World Bank, only 26 per cent of the population had access to electricity in 2022, with most of this being concentrated in urban centres like Freetown.
Sierra Leone’s energy infrastructure is out-dated and poorly maintained. The country’s primary energy provider, the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), struggles with inefficiencies, including transmission losses, unreliable power supply, and high operating costs. As a result, many Sierra Leoneans rely on alternative, often more expensive, sources of energy, such as generators, kerosene lamps, and charcoal, which pose significant health and environmental risks.
For the majority of Sierra Leoneans living in rural areas, access to electricity remains a distant dream. The Rural Electrification Project, initiated by the government in collaboration with international partners, has made some progress in expanding electricity to rural communities, but the coverage remains limited. In many areas, solar panels and mini-grids are being promoted as sustainable solutions to rural electrification, but the cost of these technologies remains prohibitive for many households.
Without reliable energy, economic development is severely hampered. Small businesses struggle to operate, schools and health centres cannot function effectively, and households are left without the basic amenities that electricity provides. The lack of energy access is a major barrier to poverty reduction and social development in Sierra Leone.
Despite these challenges, there is potential for Sierra Leone to tap into renewable energy sources, particularly solar, hydro, and biomass. The government has made commitments to increase renewable energy capacity, and several projects, including the Bumbuna Hydroelectric Project and various solar initiatives, are in progress. However, the scale of these efforts is still insufficient to meet the country’s growing energy needs.
Investments in renewable energy could play a crucial role in bridging the energy gap, but these initiatives require strong political will, significant financial investment, and better coordination between government agencies and private sector stakeholders. The transition to a more sustainable energy future is possible, but it will require a concerted effort from all sectors of society.
Sierra Leone’s healthcare system, like its education and energy sectors, faces numerous challenges. The country’s healthcare infrastructure is weak, and access to basic health services remains a significant issue, particularly in rural areas. According to UNICEF, Sierra Leone has one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world, with 717 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020.
Access to healthcare services is often limited by geographic, economic, and social factors. In rural areas, healthcare facilities are scarce, and many people have to travel long distances to reach the nearest clinic or hospital. Even in urban centres, healthcare services are often inadequate, with hospitals frequently running out of essential supplies and medications.
The quality of healthcare in Sierra Leone is also a major concern. Public health facilities are often overcrowded, understaffed, and poorly equipped. There is a severe shortage of healthcare professionals, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) reporting a doctor-to-patient ratio of just 0.02 per 1,000 people in 2020. This shortage of trained personnel, coupled with inadequate infrastructure, means that many Sierra Leoneans are unable to receive the care they need.
In addition to these systemic issues, the country’s healthcare system continues to grapple with the legacy of the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic, which claimed the lives of thousands and further weakened an already fragile system. The COVID-19 pandemic has also exposed the vulnerabilities of Sierra Leone’s healthcare system, with limited testing capacity, inadequate protective equipment, and insufficient hospital beds.
Preventive healthcare is an area that requires significant improvement in Sierra Leone. Diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS remain major public health challenges, and the country struggles to provide adequate preventive services, such as vaccinations and health education programmes. The government’s efforts to combat these diseases are often hampered by a lack of resources and poor coordination between health agencies.
Moreover, water and sanitation services are still lacking in many parts of the country, contributing to the spread of preventable diseases. According to WaterAid, only 63 per cent of Sierra Leoneans have access to clean drinking water, and just 13% have access to proper sanitation facilities. These conditions create an environment where diseases such as cholera and typhoid can spread easily, further burdening the healthcare system.
Transportation is another critical area where Sierra Leone struggles to provide adequate services. The country’s road network is underdeveloped, with many roads in poor condition or completely impassable during the rainy season. This lack of infrastructure not only hampers economic development but also limits access to essential services such as education and healthcare.
Efforts have been made to improve the country’s transportation network, with road rehabilitation projects underway in various regions. However, the scale of the problem is vast, and significant investment is required to create a reliable and efficient transportation system that serves the needs of all Sierra Leoneans.
Access to clean water and proper sanitation is essential for public health and social well-being, yet many Sierra Leoneans lack these basic necessities. The country’s water supply infrastructure is inadequate, with frequent water shortages in urban areas and limited access to clean water in rural communities. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), only about half of the population has access to improved water sources.
Sanitation is another major issue, with many households lacking access to proper sanitation facilities. Open defecation remains common in rural areas, and inadequate waste management
Sierra Leone faces significant challenges in providing essential services such as education, energy, healthcare, and social facilities. Despite efforts to reform and improve these sectors, systemic issues like underinvestment, poor infrastructure, and corruption continue to hamper progress. The education system, while more accessible, suffers from poor quality and gender disparities. The energy sector remains inefficient, especially in rural areas, while the healthcare system is underfunded and understaffed, struggling to meet basic needs. The lack of proper transportation, water, and sanitation further exacerbates these challenges. Addressing these deficiencies requires strong political will, substantial investment, and sustained efforts to ensure that all Sierra Leoneans can access the services they deserve for a better quality of life, Sierra Leoneans, together with President Bio can definitely change the narrative before he exit power in 2028.