They spoke on Tuesday at the Professor Gbamanja Commission of Enquiry in Freetown. The Commission is investigating the causes for the poor performance of pupils in public examinations and other related issues. Among the Principals was Patrick Browne of the Government Model Secondary School who is the National President of the Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools. He said if politics and education were not separated, the educational sector would continue to suffer. Mr. Browne noted that the poor performance in exams did not start last year. The principals highlighted a number of reasons which they said were responsible for the poor standard in education over the years. They mentioned the proliferation of mushroom secondary schools, which they described as purely ‘commercial ventures’.

In the primary sector, the Head teachers pointed out that the sector was receiving no attention from the government.

They added that the children would not perform better in junior secondary school if they were not well prepared in the primary school.