0ver Leone Preparatory school shut down – CARL Urges Judiciary to review MEST order s
The Executive Director of the Centre for Accountability and the Rule of Law (CARL), Mr. Ibrahim Tommy, has urged the Judiciary of Sierra Leone to review the order of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) for the Leone Preparatory School to be closed down in July 2014. (Photo: Ibrahim Tommy CARL Executive Director talking to Journalists)
Mr. Tommy made the appeal at his Brook Street office in Freetown when he was explaining to Journalists about the lawsuit the he has filed to the Judiciary challenging the Education M9inistry’s order to close down the private school.
According to Mr. Tommy, the suit was filed with the High Court of Sierra Leone pursuant to Order 52 of the High Court Rules 2007, noting that the applicant is the Leone Preparatory School while he said the Respondents are the Minister of Education and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
He further discussed that the suit seeks a declaration that the decision by the MEST was contrary to law and that the principles of natural justice were violated. He added that the suit also seeks an order declaring that the action was disproportionate, excessive and that it has unjustifiably deprived hundreds of pupils of their right to education.
Ibrahim Tommy CARL Executive Director talking to Journalists
He noted that the order to shut down the school was issued despite the fact that the children had missed school for nearly eight months due to the outbreak of the Ebola disease virus in the country.
He disclosed that CARL has also filed a separate suit on behalf of several other independent schools to challenge the decision of the Ministry of Education to impose a mandatory two term academic year on private schools, as well as the order that fees be slashed by one-third, contrary to Section 46 (1) of the Education Act of 2004.
He concluded by stating that the decision has the unfortunate potential of adversely affecting the contracts between proprietors of private schools and their employees.
By Abdulai Mento Kamara
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