Bio’s Unending Legacy
By: Christian Conteh
The Genesis
On August 20, 2018, Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio launched a groundbreaking education initiative, the Free Quality School Education Program (FQSE), at the Miatta Conference Centre in Freetown.
This program was established to address the decline in education standards that had plagued the country for the past decade and to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4. FQSE aims to improve access to quality education by providing a positive learning environment for school-age children, with trained and qualified teachers and sufficient teaching and learning resources.
President Bio unveiled the program’s first five-year plan during the launch, which received widespread acclaim and support from the country’s youth, playing a significant role in his victory in the 2018 presidential elections.
The government made swift progress, with the initiative’s package and implementation strategy announced within six months of President Bio’s inauguration, and full implementation began in September 2018.
Policies
Ban On Corporal Punishment-One of the significant evidence-based policies that have been implemented is the ban on corporal punishment in schools. The minister has been meeting with stakeholders to challenge the notion that beating children for coming late to school is an effective discipline method. The evidence shows that positive discipline methods that involve engaging the child, parents, and community stakeholders are more effective.
“I have had a meeting with various stakeholders and I have challenged them that evidence shows that there is nowhere in the world where corporal punishment is good for children. An example is beating children for coming late to school, in some instances no matter what is done or how much you are beaten because of the circumstances that situation wouldn’t change.
“Evidence has shown that if you engage in positive discipline methods and engage the child, the pare ts and the community among other stakeholders the children are better,” Dr. Sengeh says.
Radical Inclusion- The program has also embraced radical inclusion, providing education opportunities for pregnant girls and other marginalized groups. This the minister says has led to a decrease in teenage pregnancies by 33% over the last four years, thanks to a joint effort by the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, the Teenage Pregnancy Secretariat, and other government bodies involved in the fight against SGBV.
“Data shows that from 2018 to now the number of pregnant girls coming back to primary school is going down. We cannot further victimize girls who are victims of rape by refusing them access to schools. Teenage Pregnancy has gone down by 33% over the last 4 years,” Minister Sengeh says.
Comprehensive Sexuality Education Curriculum -The ‘Comprehensive Sexuality Education’ (CSE) is another policy that seeks to transform the sector. According to Mahawa Abibatu Koroma, a member of the Delivery Team in the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education under the Radical Inclusion program CSE is a curriculum-based, right-based, and gender-transformative approach to sexuality education that aims to equip young people with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values needed to navigate their sexuality physically, emotionally, and individually, within their relationships.
Although this policy has raised concerns among members of the Inter-Religious Council, the Ministry has assured them that the Comprehensive Sexuality Education Curriculum will not conflict with any religious or moral values.
Progress Made
Sierra Leone has been making significant strides in achieving the mandate of the Free Quality School Education program which is to provide inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all, based on evidence-based policies that are globally related and can be questioned. The transformative stories include:
Salary Increase for Teachers: A Commitment to Improve Education Over the years- The Education Ministry has been committed to improving the welfare of teachers by increasing their salaries. The ministry recognizes that well-paid and motivated teachers are key to improving the quality of education. The ministry has continued to increase teacher salaries, with a commitment to further increases in the future.
An Increase in salary was made for teachers in January 2019, a 10% transport allowance was paid to teachers from grades 1 to 6 and another 30% increment in salary was paid in April 2020 to all teachers in government and government-assisted schools nationwide. Negotiations with SLTU in 2022 resulted in an increase of 45% over a period of 3 years commencing January 2022.
Curriculum Change: Ensuring Quality Education- The Education Ministry has overhauled the curriculum from early childhood to secondary level to ensure that learners receive a quality education.
The new curriculum is learner-centered, and it focuses on practical skills and critical thinking. The ministry is committed to ensuring that the curriculum remains relevant and up-to-date.
Expansion of Schools: Making Education Accessible -The Education Ministry has increased the number of schools across the country, and 85% of them are approved. This expansion has made education more accessible, especially in rural areas. The ministry has also provided additional resources to these schools to ensure that they offer quality education.
The Sierra Leone government, in collaboration with partners, has invested in the rehabilitation and construction of schools and classrooms across the country. As part of the Free Quality School Education (FQSE) initiative, Le 3 billion was provided to 150 schools for the fabrication of furniture to address overcrowding.
Additionally, with funding from the Islamic Development Bank, 335 classrooms were constructed in existing schools. The FQSE is also set to construct 100 new classrooms, while the Global Partnership for Education has built 60 classrooms in Pujehun, Bombali, and Kambia districts. Other partners, such as the Japanese Government, Mercury, Orange Sierra Leone, and the European Union, have also supported the construction of Early Childhood Development centers, girls’ secondary schools, and the rehabilitation of Junior Secondary Schools.
These efforts aim to provide quality education for students and improve the overall education system in Sierra Leone.
Increased Learner Population: A Sign of Improved Education- The Education Ministry’s efforts have led to an increase in the number of learners, with over one million additional learners enrolled in pre-primary and senior secondary school. This increase is a clear sign that the education system is improving and that more learners have access to education.
School Feeding Program: Ensuring Nutritional Needs Are Met- The Education Ministry has expanded the school feeding program from 200,000 to 800,000 kids. This program ensures that learners’ nutritional needs are met, which is essential for their academic performance. By providing food in school, the ministry is also encouraging learners to attend school regularly.
“Government in collaboration with partners has expanded the scope of school feeding from 5 to 14 chiefdoms across the country since 2018. In 2018, 105,000 pupils were benefiting from school feeding, this increased to 137,000 in 2019. In 2020 the target beneficiary figures increased to 435,000 and in 2021 it was 640,000. This gives us over a 315% increase in the number of children fed since 2018. Based on this trajectory we are projecting that by September 2022 we will be feeding 818,624 children nationwide,” Dr. Sengeh says.
Provision of Learning Materials and Teacher Training: Improving Learning Outcomes – The Education Ministry has provided over 10 million books, teaching, and learning materials, and sporting equipment. This provision has enabled learners to access essential resources that aid in their learning. The ministry has also recruited over 12,000 teachers and provided training for over 22,000. These efforts have improved learning outcomes and increased the quality of education.
The procurement and distribution of education materials run into billions of Leones. The Civic Books, totaling Le 33,624,547,819, and textbooks in Core Subject areas, worth Le. 163,628,722,094, have been procured and distributed. In addition, teaching and learning materials worth Le. 106,041,645,000 have been distributed to schools across the country since the launch of the Free Quality School Education program.
This investment in education is expected to benefit students across the country and contribute to the overall improvement of the education system.
Innovative Approach: Empowering Chiefs to Report Challenges- The Education Ministry has built an app and given every chief a tablet to report the challenges the system faces. This innovative approach empowers school chiefs to report issues promptly, enabling the ministry to respond quickly and efficiently. This approach ensures that the education system is continually improving, and challenges are addressed promptly.
Impact Stories: The Link Between Policy and Impact- While the numbers show the success of the Education Ministry’s efforts, the impact stories are about children. The ministry’s commitment to improving education has positively impacted learners’ lives, giving them access to quality education and improving their future prospects. The link between policy and impact is clear, and the ministry’s efforts have ensured that education is accessible and of high quality for all.
The Role of Technology
The Ministry of Basic and Senior School Education has taken a bold step in its education transformation drive by introducing technology in its programs. Among the notable initiatives include the one tablet per school program, where all senior secondary schools have been provided with a tablet, and the learning passport, which is a platform where students can access past question papers, syllabuses, and other learning materials.
Additionally, the Ministry has implemented the Radio Teaching Programme, which broadcasts educational programs to students in remote areas. Furthermore, the Ministry has digitized data collection during the Annual School Census and school feeding assessments and has provided an online dictionary and a results checker to enhance the learning experience for students.
These initiatives demonstrate the Ministry’s commitment to providing quality education to all students, regardless of their location or socio-economic background.
This drive to a large extent has restored integrity and sanity in the education sector whilst reducing examination malpractice and irregularities.
Outputs and Outcomes of Governments Investment
In a remarkable achievement, the total enrolment in schools across the country has seen a significant increase since 2018. According to recent data, pre-primary enrolment has increased by about 37%, primary enrolment by 29%, JSS enrolment by 48%, and SSS enrolment by 55%.
Additionally, there has been a general improvement in enrolment gender equity, with more girls enrolling in pre-primary to JSS levels and in SSS than boys. Moreover, school completion rates have increased at all levels by more than 20% since 2018.
As of now, completion rates stand at 84% in primary, 74% in JSS, and 45% in SSS, a significant improvement from the 2018 rates of 78%, 49%, and 19%, respectively. Furthermore, the number of pupils passing the NPSE and BECE has increased by more than 30% and 60%, respectively, since 2018.
It is worth noting that in 2022, an unprecedented 81% of pupils passed the NPSE indicating a significant improvement in learning outcomes.
Persistent Challenges
Despite the quantum leap of progress, the education sector in our country is facing numerous challenges that hinder its progress.
Firstly, there is a shortage of adequately furnished classrooms to meet the demands of the increasing enrolment of students in schools. Secondly, the number of trained teachers in classrooms is not enough, with more untrained and unqualified teachers being hired to fill the gaps.
Thirdly, foundational learning, especially early childhood development, and education are still weak across the country. Moreover, school heads lack basic management skills and competencies, which affects the overall administration of schools.
Additionally, low remuneration has led to low morale among teachers, which has a negative impact on the quality of education provided to students. Furthermore, the two-shift system in some schools has resulted in inadequate learning time for students.
Finally, access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools is still a challenge, which affects the health and well-being of students.
“We still have make-shift schools within our system, we still have teachers who are not on the pay role, we still have challenges with WASH systems in some schools, but we now desire to get from you the specific problems, we already know the general problems so hearing the specific problems will help us solve some of the challenges,” Dr. David Moinina Sengeh said.
Adding that addressing these challenges requires a collective effort from all stakeholders in the education sector. Dr. Sengeh thinks that going forward the challenges must be specifically handled by calling out the personnel responsible for some of the challenges. For this, he calls on the media and the general public to provide the ministry with much-needed support.
“One of the things I think we can do better is not just to identify and uncover the challenges and limitations in the sector, but to specifically call out those causing some of these challenges,” he says.
He agrees that the success of the FQSE program requires prompt payment of school subsidies, motivated teachers, improved coordination between W.A.E.C. and the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, and strategies to ensure that pupils are well-prepared for exams.
Renewed Hope
The government is currently working on an education Act and is calling on the media to provide input and encourage people to engage and participate in its formulation.
Meanwhile, Dr. David Sengeh urges everyone to fix education in the country because it is essential for an inclusive, equitable, and productive life for all. He says without it; the future will remain a dream that will never be realized.
In all the countries where the educational system has developed, the governments acknowledged that education was the key to socio-economic and political transformation. It also acknowledged that education was a basic human right, which played a pivotal role in combating ignorance, disease, and poverty.
