Teaching Service Commission Unveils President’s National Best Teacher Award 2021

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of their aim to award the most innovative, resourceful and dedicated teachers at District, Regional and National levels as a motivation in the teaching profession, the Teaching Service Commission has on Thursday 27th May, 2021 officially launched the President’s National Best Teacher Award 2021 during an auspicious event held at the Teaching Service Commission Conference Hall on Priscilla Street in Freetown.

The vision of the said award is to have a teaching force with high standards of delivering quality outcomes for students at all levels, the best of whom are ready to compete with their peers at national and international levels.

Speaking during the launch, the Chair of the Teaching Service commission, Conrad Sackey, described the launch of the Award as a laudable venture in recognizing the efforts of teachers across the country.

He maintained that the TSC, in collaboration with Technical Staff of the Planning and Policy Directorate at the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education successfully piloted a legislation for teachers.

Conrad Sackey added that the Commission is working on plans to develop an electronic database with links to certificate awarding institutions to enable rapid retrieval and verification of Diplomas and Certificates presented by teachers.

He also noted that the Commission has developed an HR manual for teachers and school leaders, adding that they have also recruited 500 new teachers to replace 3740 retired teachers and they have also processed 4158 teachers for both assessment and promotion in the past three years.

The Chair further added that the Commission is working with a wide range of partners to develop a national strategic framework for continuous professional development for teachers with a view to harmonize and coordinate the CPD approaches.

He pointed out that after highlighting some of the Commission’s achievement and plans it is against such a backdrop that he wants to introduce the President’s National Best Teacher Award which he said will recognize innovative, resourceful and dedicated teachers at District, Regional and National levels as a motivation in the teaching profession.

Founder/CEO of the Sierra Leone Teacher Prize, Josephine Saidu, disclosed that President Julius Maada Bio in his maiden speech to the nation, issued the people’s Manifesto, in which he promised to introduce the National Best Teacher Award.

She stated that the initiative was conceived as an integral part of the Government’s Free Quality School Education with teachers playing a crucial and decisive role in its successful implementation.

Josephine Saidu noted that the objective of the award is to recognize the value of teachers, promote excellence among teachers, stimulate competition in their pursuit of excellence and to motivate and inspire teachers.

Dilating on the eligibility criteria ,Josephine Saidu, noted that the criteria includes full-time trained and qualified pre- school, primary and secondary school teachers in Government and Government assisted schools in the country, consistent demonstration of high performance and dedication as teachers for the period of at least 5 years, evidence of meeting the professional standards to be defined in the knowledge, practice and engagement domains and practicing the teaching profession in line with the teacher code of conduct.

Outlining the timeline for the Award, Director of Teacher Management at the Teaching Service Commission, Marian S. Abu said that have started the process way back in March 2021 of which they opened the nomination window which she said was followed by selection at District level.

She added that on the 31st May, 2021 there will a selection of regional winners and that from the 1st-4th June 2021 they will be verifying the regional winners, from the 1st -10th June 2021 will be for public voting for winners of the National Best Teacher Award 2021 which will be followed by a selection and endorsement of the National Best Teacher Award 2021 from 8th-10th June 2021.

Marian S. Abu revealed that the 1st National Best Teacher Award 2021will be hosted on the 17th June, 2021 with the venue to be announced later on.