We, the undersigned, call for the reopening of the Leone Preparatory School in Freetown, and for an independent investigation into the decision by the Chief Education Officer (CEO) of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) to shut down the school.

 On July 3rd 2015 Leone Preparatory School, a privately owned and operated school founded in 1964 by Mrs. Bertha Conton (Grand Commander of the Order of Rokel), received a letter from the Chief Educational Officer of MEST closing down the school. The reason given in the letter for the closure was that the operations of the school administration were observed to be “contravening the sections of the Education Act of 2004…”

 No investigation was conducted, no due process was followed, and no advance notice was given to the school administration to implement the instruction. Over 300 children were thrown out of school and further traumatized after losing almost a year’s education to Ebola. The investment of a private investor in Sierra Leone was immediately financially threatened by this decision.

 Further inquiries to MEST revealed that the CEO has no evidence to support the allegation that the school's operations are in contravention of the Education Act of 2004.

 Leone Preparatory School has consistently been in compliance with MEST regulations.

 We call on H.E. President Koroma to immediately reverse the closing of Leone Preparatory School. The current climate is contrary to your aims and objectives for the education, which are to improve the learning environment and opportunities in Sierra Leone.  Private schools in Sierra Leone are an essential part of the delivery of quality education to school children.

 The damage done to the education of 300 children is only rivalled by the damage done to Sierra Leone’s image as an attractive investment destination where the Government supports and encourages private sector investment.

 H.E. President Koroma, please do the right thing and re-open the school.

 Yours truly,

Daphne Atere-Roberts