THE UNIQUE PROBLEM
In Sierra Leone, access to quality education, retention and completion of school remain challenges for children. Compounding factors such as poverty, gender discrimination, geographical location, perceived low value placed on education, harmful traditional practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM – 86.1 per cent), early marriage (30 per cent of women are married before age 18), teenage pregnancy, and unsafe learning environments are the main causes affecting learning outcomes (Sierra Leone Education Report 2020). The percentage of school age out-of-school children in primary is 18%, junior secondary is 19%, and senior secondary is 36%. The literacy and numeracy rates of children in primary schools for both boys and girls is 15%. 1 out of 10 children are likely to complete senior education in underserved communities, compared to 7 out of 10 in urban communities (ESP 2022-2026).
Schools in marginalised and deprived rural areas without creative incentive schemes are struggling to attract qualified teachers. Thus they rely on unqualified teachers who do not possess the requisite knowledge and skills for effective teaching and learning - creating a weak learning environment in many schools. The Early Grade Reading and Mathematics Assessments conducted in 2021 show that only 10.7% of second grade pupils demonstrated reading fluency and comprehension of grade-level text, while only 6.1% can do grade-level mathematics with understanding - compared to 40%, 30% and 53% in Gambia, Liberia and Uganda respectively.
This is why TFSL will recruit, train, place 100 graduate fellows in 40 hard-to-reach school communities across 6 districts in Sierra Leone, impacting 40,000 students (based on the pupil-teacher ratio of Sierra Leone). TFSL will also provide remediation and supportive mentorship to promising graduates that will bridge the demand and supply gap in our marginalised schools and work to increase learning outcomes in Sierra Leone. They will work with schools and communities to improve school governance infrastructures, and community involvement in improving school performance. They will also train existing teachers in the foundations of teaching in order to improve the quality of education. These fellows will provide remediation support, safe spaces and guidance counselling to marginalised girls within their communities of placement in order to improve their performance in school and serve as a vehicle to support their reintegration into the formal education system.
International World teachers' day 5th/10/2023
The teacher need for education we want: The Global imperative to reserve the shortage of teachers.
Our Vision
TFSL envisions that one day, all children in Sierra Leone will have an opportunity to attain an excellent education that will help them achieve their full potential, irrespective of their socio-economic status, geographical location or gender.
Partnering with CRS and Irish Aid
Teach For Sierra leone is supporting CRS and Irish aid develop high-quality diagnostic assessments to help Class 6 teachers identify the learning needs of their students and teach at the right level.
Our Mission
To expand educational opportunity by developing transformative future leaders that will lead systemic change to create a truly liberatory environment that will end educational injustices in Sierra Leone.
OUR PARTNERS
