Author: SIERRA LEONE : NON-STATE ACTORS IN EDUCATION
Site of publication: Education Profiles
Type of publication: Report
Date of publication: January 25, 2023
- Typology of provision
2.1 State education provision
State schools
In Sierra Leone, both state and non-state actors provide education. Primary education (from age six), lower secondary education (from age 12), and upper secondary education (from age 15) are publicly funded. However, government-owned state schools (13.8%) account for a lower proportion of schools than those operated by non-state actors. According to the Education Act (2004), the duration of compulsory education is 12 years, from pre-primary to klower secondary education.
Non-state funded, state schools
State education in Sierra Leone is financed by the state and by non-state contributions. Non-state contributions include contributions collected through parent-teacher associations and school management committees. Community teachers are paid through community contributions, other informal contributions, taxes, and fees paid by households. Public education in Sierra Leone has also benefited from aid, financial and technical assistance from international organisations and other international actors.
Independent, non-state schools
Private schools are owned, managed, and fully funded by private actors, who receive no subsidies from the government (16.2%). These schools can set their own curricula and learning standards. Examples include International Baccalaureate schools, the American school, the Global NGO School and Low-cost private schools.
State-funded (government-aided), non-state schools
In Sierra Leone, most education (70%) is provided by government-assisted schools in pre-primary, primary, junior secondary, and higher secondary. These schools include schools managed by faith-based organizations (mission schools – 56%) and community schools (14.1%), which are managed by the community. All government-assisted schools must follow the minimum academic national standards and are primarily financed through government subsidies. However, according to the new guidelines on Criteria for Schools Approval to Receive Financial Assistance from the Government/”Grants-in-Aid, government-assisted schools must fund at least 20% of their running costs. The government’s subsidies can be distributed in the form of in-kind support and/or financial aid. Financial support consists of supporting teachers’ salaries and providing grants or subsidies based on enrolment. On the other hand, non-financial support consists of providing teaching and learning materials, such as textbooks, furniture, sports equipment, paying examination fees or building infrastructure, such as classrooms, water and sanitation facilities (WASH).
- Governance and regulations
According to the Local Government Act (2004), Sierra Leone’s education governance is decentralized. At the central level, the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) is the lead agency for the development, supervision and management from pre-primary to secondary level. ECCE is governed by the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), the Teaching Service Commission, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS), the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs (MSWGCA), and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED). In 2021, the MBSSE launched the Intergraded Early Childhood Development (IECD) policy to ensure that children aged zero to eight have access to early childhood development (ECD) services. In higher education, the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education is responsible for the technical and tertiary level with the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC).
At the local level, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MoLGRD), through the District Education Officer and the Local Councils, is responsible for monitoring and inspecting state and non-state schools for all education levels.
Vision: The main development and education strategies in Sierra Leone are the 2018 Free Quality School Education (FQSE) and the National Development Plan 2019-2023. They follow previous development strategies and focus on addressing school and system level challenges. They point out that private and non-governmental organisations are crucial allies for the education sector after the civil war and Ebola crisis of 2014. In 2020, the Early Childhood Development Policy was developed. It aims to foster partnerships with non-state actors to ensure that all children aged 0-8 years have access to ECD services.