Sierra Leone Falls Short In Education Funding – GPE Report 2025 Reveals
John Kelly Marah
The latest Global Partnership for Education (GPE) 2025 Results Framework report for Sierra Leone reveals a decline in government expenditure on education. The report states that education spending as a percentage of total government expenditure (excluding debt service) fell from 16% in 2020 to 13% in 2023. This is well below the GPE’s recommended benchmark of 20%, which is considered a strong commitment to domestic education financing. This decrease raises concerns about Sierra Leone’s ability to sustain progress in improving education outcomes, particularly in access, quality, and equity. The GPE framework emphasizes that increased domestic financing is critical to achieving long-term education transformation. Comparatively, the average education expenditure among GPE partner countries stands at 18%, highlighting Sierra Leone’s shortfall. The decline in funding comes at a time when the country is facing significant challenges in education, including low completion rates at the secondary level and gaps in learning proficiency. Experts warn that without adequate investment, gains made in recent years through international funding and policy reforms could be at risk. The government is urged to realign its budgetary priorities to ensure education receives the necessary funding. Stakeholders, including civil society organizations and development partners, continue to advocate for increased investment to meet the GPE’s financial benchmarks and ensure quality education for all children in Sierra Leone.
Despite International Support…