By Davida Spaine-Solomon
Freetown, 15 January 2026 – The Freetown Secondary School for Girls (FSSG) has undergone one of the largest private-sector style investments in Sierra Leone’s education sector, with its Old Pupils Association channelling over Le 9 billion (old Leones) into infrastructure upgrades.
The multi-billion Leone expenditure (NLe 9,968,847) was unveiled at a press briefing held at the school’s Hanna Benka-Coker Street compound on 15th January 2026. According to financial disclosures presented at the event, the capital injection covered:
Structural works including renovation of seven classrooms, staff rooms, library, computer lab, food room, and needlework room. Facilities upgrade, which included rehabilitation of the clinic, toilets, school market, and stage area and access & security, which focused on the reconstruction of Gates 1 and 2, driveway improvements, and installation of CCTV cameras for surveillance.
The investment represents a comprehensive capital expenditure program aimed at modernizing the school’s physical assets, improving safety, and enhancing the learning environment.
The Old Pupils Association acted as the primary financier, pooling alumni contributions for the project. The initiative mirrors private-sector financing models where stakeholders reinvest in institutional assets to secure long-term returns, in this case, educational outcomes.
The Le 9 billion spent positions FSSG as a case study in alumni-led financing for education. Beyond infrastructure, the investment is expected to increase the school’s capacity to attract and retain students, strengthen its competitive edge among leading institutions in Freetown, whilst providing a framework for other schools to replicate alumni-driven capital projects.
