The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, in collaboration with the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), has concluded a two-day workshop on the mid-term review of the Education Sector Plan (ESP) 2022-2026. The workshop, held on October 9-10, 2024, at the Saphyre Court, King Harman Road, brought together key stakeholders to assess the progress and address challenges in the education sector.
In her opening statement, Deputy Chief Education Officer at the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, Madam Musu Gorvie, explained that the ESP is a strategic document guiding the education sector from 2022 to 2026. The purpose of the mid-term review, she stated, was to assess the successes and challenges encountered thus far and make necessary revisions to ensure the effective delivery of the plan’s objectives. She reminded participants of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) guidelines, noting that the ESP must be completed 18 months before a new document can be developed.
Madam
Gorvie emphasized the importance of conducting an honest assessment, urging attendees to review what has been achieved and remains critically pending. The review, she added, focused on whether partners were implementing activities as outlined, addressing contemporary issues that have emerged, ministerial ownership of the policy document, and the relevance of ongoing activities. She also called for reassessing the plan’s ambitious objectives to ensure they remain realistic and achievable.
Hon. Alpha Madie Jabbie, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Education (MBSSE), stressed the importance of reflecting on what has been accomplished and taking necessary actions to meet the ESP’s objectives. He highlighted financing challenges as a significant barrier and informed participants of an ongoing national review of senior secondary schools, with findings to be shared with key stakeholders.
Mr. Sorie I. Turay, representing the Teaching Service Commission (TSC), noted that some ambitious objectiv
es of the ESP have yet to be achieved due to funding constraints. He highlighted the introduction of a licensing examination as part of efforts to ensure qualified teachers are employed. In 2024, he stated, 3,500 teachers were recruited (2,000 new hires and 1,500 replacements). However, challenges must still be addressed with teacher retention and procuring 6,000 tablets for attendance monitoring.
Mr. Alphonso Manley, representing Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), commended the sector for developing Sierra Leone’s first ESP with UNESCO’s support. He stressed the importance of ministries taking ownership of the plan and collaborating effectively to ensure its successful implementation. Manley also noted the absence of key stakeholders at the workshop, calling for unified commitment when discussing the ESP as the guiding document for the education sector.
Mrs. Adama J. Momoh, Deputy Chief Education Officer, provided context for the review, explaining that a diagnostic assessment of the education system info
rmed the nine objectives of the ESP. He added that the review was divided into thematic areas, including pre-primary, primary, secondary, and technical education. UNESCO, he noted, provided technical quality assurance through a diagnostic tool and a financial model for activity costing. He stressed that the ESP’s overall goal is to improve learning outcomes across all levels and ensure proficiency in numeracy and literacy.
Dr. Lakoh, the lead consultant, emphasized that the ESP reflects the sector’s intentions and posed critical questions about the level of stakeholder engagement and implementation of planned activities. He urged participants to engage deeply with the ESP and ensure its objectives are realized.
For an in-depth review, participants were divided into four groups to examine specific areas of the ESP and propose recommendations to strengthen its implementation.
Source: Sierra Leone News Agency
