By Thaimu T. Kamara
Sierra Leone’s educational sector is undergoing a period of renewed scrutiny as government authorities, in collaboration with development partners, evaluate ongoing reforms aimed at enhancing the quality, inclusivity, and effectiveness of learning outcomes nationwide.
Despite these efforts, several challenges continue to affect the system. Teachers, parents, and students have voiced deep concerns over poor performance in public examinations, which many attribute to curriculum inconsistencies and delayed government support. In Kambia District, for instance, teachers have expressed unease over the introduction of a new curriculum, noting that both educators and students remain more familiar with the previous system. The uncertainty has created confusion in classrooms and may undermine academic progress.
Another pressing issue is the delayed disbursement of school subsidies, which stakeholders warn could negatively impact pupils’ academic performance. These delays have raised questions about the sustainability of government initiatives such as the Free Quality School Education programme, which has helped boost enrolment rates but faces operational challenges, including timely teacher payrolls.
Sierra Leone’s education system has undergone several reviews over the years through the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, focusing on areas such as school subsidies, curriculum standards, and the expansion of free quality education. Most recently, UNICEF and the government convened a National Seminar on Inclusive Education to evaluate progress and identify persistent gaps affecting marginalized groups, including girls, children with disabilities, and pupils in rural communities. Discussions emphasized expanding early childhood education, addressing low literacy levels, and increasing pre-primary enrolment nationwide.
In 2025, the Ministry withdrew a newly introduced curriculum after it was discovered that it lacked approval from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). Schools were instructed to revert to the WAEC-aligned curriculum while further assessments continue, highlighting the importance of regulatory oversight and standardization in ensuring student success.
Government officials maintain that these reviews are not only corrective but strategic. They aim to strengthen policy implementation, improve learning outcomes, and create an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable educational system capable of equipping all learners with the skills needed for the future.
As Sierra Leone navigates these reforms, stakeholders stress the importance of collaboration, transparency, and adequate support to ensure that students across the country can benefit from quality education that leaves no one behind.