Section 3, The Education Act, 2004

(1) The six years of primary and three years of juniorsecondary schooling provided under paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) of section 2 shall constitute formal basic education in Sierra Leone. (2) Every citizen of Sierra Leone shall have the right to basic education which accordingly shall be compulsory and shall be designed to– (a) provide facilities for all citizens to be literate and numerate and help them to cultivate the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable them to earn a good living; (b) improve the social and health circumstances of the citizen; (c) inculcate patriotism, and (d) enable the citizen to understand the complexities and opportunities of the modern world. (3) Basic education shall be, to the extent specified by the Minister by statutory instrument, free in government assisted primary and junior secondary schools and private schools shall not frustrate the right to basic education conferred by subsection (2) by charging fees that are, in the opinion of the Minister, unreasonable. (4) A parent, including a guardian, who neglects to send his child to school for basic education commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding Le500,000.00 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both such fine and imprisonment. 4 5 Basic education as right of citizen. (5) A child who persistently fails to attend school for basic education shall be treated as if he were a juvenile in need of care under paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 27 of the Children and Young Persons Act.