‘An empty bag cannot stand upright’: The nature of schooling costs in Sierra Leone

Abstract Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world with a literacy level of 51%. The government has oficially abolished school fees; however, families still have to cover various education-related costs for their children. This paper analyses the nature of the schooling costs in Sierra Leone. It shows that despite the abolition of school fees, schooling costs remain prohibitively high. Based on field research – which involved the observation of schools and interviews with teachers, pupils, and parents – the paper posits that institutional factors may prevent the reduction of these costs.