Concerns over the state of education in Sierra Leone have taken a new turn, with veteran educator and senior educationist Sylvester Meheux warning about what he described as troubling practices among some pupils and teachers.
Speaking on AYV’s Wake Up Sierra Leone, Meheux referenced the expression “Mamie ihn head” a local phrase he said is used to describe giving a teacher money in connection with school assignments. He condemned the practice as wrong and warned that such attitudes could undermine the values education is expected to instil.
“Someone explained to me that when you don’t do your assignments in school, ‘you for put the Mamie ihn head inside the book,’ meaning you give the teacher money. That is very wrong,” Meheux said.
His remarks come amid wider concerns about the quality of learning, parental involvement, accountability and the overall culture surrounding education in Sierra Leone. Meheux also criticised what he sees as declining parental engagement, arguing that many parents are increasingly focused on examination results rather than actively following their children’s learning at home.
The concerns raise a bigger question: is Sierra Leone’s education system producing learners who understand the value of hard work and academic integrity, or is an unhealthy culture of shortcuts gradually taking root?
While Meheux’s account should not be taken as evidence that such a practice is widespread across schools, it highlights the importance of strengthening supervision, teacher ethics, parental engagement and pupils’ commitment to genuine learning.
As Sierra Leone continues to invest heavily in education, stakeholders say the conversation must go beyond enrolment and examination results to address what happens inside classrooms and whether the education system is equipping young people with the knowledge, discipline and values needed to build the country’s future.
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