By Amin Kef Sesay
It has been a widely expressed view that for the Free Quality School Education (FQSE) initiative to be successful, then more trained and qualified teachers should be recruited to match up with the increased number of children to be absorbed into the system.
As to date it is recorded that after the introduction of the Free Quality School Education (FQSE) in 2018 the New Direction Government has employed 10,268 teachers nationwide to meet the overwhelming influx of pupils yearning to benefit from the scheme.
“Teachers make up 40% of the entire Government payroll and over 4000 teachers have been placed on their right pay grade. Over 300 school heads have been regularized. This year alone we have recruited 1,000 teachers. There are over 36,000 Teachers on the government payroll. We aim to add this number to 37,500 in the next two years. That’s the New Direction,” Minister of Basic Education, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh stated.
He continued that this Government will continue to invest in and promote teachers because that’s one sure way to contribute to national development.
In the building up to the end of April 2020, there were concerns that the Government might not be able to fulfill its commitment due to the emergence of the ongoing Corona virus pandemic that forced many nations to reduce budgetary support on education.
However, the Government kept the promise and paid the 30% increase for up to 34,350 teachers across the country. The increment at the time means that the payroll for teachers increased by Le 13,45 billion, from Le 42.95 billion in March 2020 to Le 56.40 billion in April 2020.
“I am a community teacher and I taught for over five years with no salary, and in 2019 I was fortunate to be among the over 4,000 teachers that were approved by the Government. Six of us were approved in my school and that served as a motivation to us. Also, the learning materials they gave to us as a result of the FQSE make learning very easy for the kids,” according to Alhaji Mohamed Sesay a teacher at Konta Kuma Senior and Junior Secondary School Port Loko District pointed out.
It is said that over 500 Principals and Vice Principals have been appointed between August 2020 and November 2021. All were previously either Acting positions or vacant. The Government, it is also stated, has invested in school management and leadership.
During the Presidential National Best Teacher Award, held sometime in the year, 48 teachers were honored by the President of Sierra Leone for their service and dedication as teachers. Two of those teachers were nominated to the African Union Best Teacher Prize and several have benefited from advanced training opportunities.
It must be noted that teachers are the most essential ingredients for achieving SDG4: inclusive quality education. They are also an essential part of the Government’s Free Quality School Education programme. This, according to the Minister, is why an unprecedented level of investment has been made towards enhancing the policies, incentives, and welfare of teachers in Sierra Leone.
