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Sierra Leone National Action Plan for Health Security (2018-2022) is out

By Fatmata Jangbe

The Sierra Leone National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) is based on the recommendations of the 2016 Joint External Evaluation (JEE). The JEE is a voluntary, collaborative and multi-sectoral process to evaluate country’s capacity to prevent, detect and rapidly respond to public health risks occurring naturally or due to deliberate or accidental events.

The JEE process helps countries identify the most critical gaps within their human and animal health systems, to prioritize opportunities for enhanced preparedness and response, and to engage with current and prospective partners and donors to effectively target resources. Sierra Leone was among first African nations to accept to undergo the JEE process which was conducted in between 31st Oct – 4th November.

Some of the key areas for improvement that were identified through the process of JEE included; the need for revision of public health laws and legislation, a budget line for IHR, accelerate the implementation of the One Health approach, development of a comprehensive multi-hazard National Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response plan, strengthening surveillance at points of entry (PoEs), improve coordination and collaboration between human and animal health laboratory systems, Improve capacity (human resources, laboratory) for the detection and response to chemical and radiation hazards among several other key priorities.

Stakeholders, with broad representation, and using a one-health approach, reviewed the NAPHS so as to prioritize activities planned in the 2018-2022 implementation period. A resource mapping exercise was carried out, this allowed the country to have an overview on the available or potential resources to support building country capacities for health security.

Implementation of this plan will enable the country to: prevent the likelihood and reduce the consequences of outbreaks and other public health hazards; build national capacities for early detection and effective response to public health emergencies and other events of public health concern; foster all-sector partnerships for effective prevention, detection and response to public health emergencies and other events of public health concern; establish a sustainable financing strategy for the attainment of national health security. Overall, this will enable the country to strengthen core capacities required under IHR 2005 leading to enhanced health security of the country and the sub region.

The overall cost of implementation of this plan is about $291 million, the high-prioritized activities for implementation in year one and two will cost about $ 50 million. It is envisaged that the health sector development partners will be enthusiastic to supplement domestic funding for the implementation to be a success. WHO will continue to coordinate a platform for donors and partners to share, inform, and collaborate in order to strengthen Sierra Leone IHR (2005) capacity and increase our contribution to global health security.

Former Sierra Leone Diplomats Receive End of Service Benefits

President Bio

By Sam Pratt

In the wake of varying discussions and arguments over the payment of end of service benefits to some former Government functionaries the Government of Sierra Leone has ended the long-drawn row with many of the country’s former diplomatic staff, including information attaches who served in the country’s embassies and high commissions overseas, over the non-payment of their end of service benefits.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Finance disclosed that the outstanding payment of End of Service Benefits to all those who served overseas either as Information or Cultural Attaches, during the APC administration of President Ernest Bai Koroma between 2007 and 2018, have now been partly settled.

The amount disbursed is said to represent 50% of the total amount due as payment of End of Service Benefits to former Information and Cultural Attaches.

The amount disbursed so far is Le2,054,464,375.8 (Two Billion, fifty four million, four hundred and sixty four thousand, three hundred and seventy five Leones and eight cents).

The biggest beneficiary is the publisher and editor of Cokorioko Online Newspaper – Reverend Leroy Kabs-Kanu (Photo), who served as Minister Counselor and Plenipotentiary at the Sierra Leone Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. He received Le212, 454,421.325.

Lansana Fadika, is also among some of the biggest beneficiaries, after serving as Cultural and Trade attaché at the Sierra Leone Embassy in Beijing, China.

Early this year, President Bio approved the payment of millions of dollars in end of service payments to former Minsters and senior public officials of the Koroma APC Government.

Many observers believe that these payments will go a long way to bridging some of the deep-rooted differences between the Government and the opposition APC party, as well as help to build trust and confidence.

 

Over increase in price of sachet water… Sierra Leone EWRC Fires Warning Shot

By Amin Kef Sesay

In a swift reaction the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (SLEWRC) recently dew the attention to a notice released as well as radio and television appearances by the Salone Pure Water Packeters and Bottling Organisation (SPWPBO) on Tuesday 1st October 2019 informing the public of an increment in the price of a bundle of sachet water from Le 2,500 to Le 3,500.

Without mincing words, the Commission totally condemned the illegal act taken by the SPWPBO highlighting that the SLEWRC is the sole body mandated to approve rate for water and electricity services to consumers. Quoting Section 45 of an Act of 2011  the Commission stated: “No utility shall demand or receive any rate for service it provides unless the rate chargeable for the service has been approved by the Commission”.

In accordance with the above, the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission advised the public to consider the increase as null and void. It anchored that members of the organization engaged in a meeting on Wednesday 2nd October 2019 on the matter and they were summoned for further discussions at the Commission on Thursday 3rd October 2019 at 10.00am.

The Commission warned that in that vein any package water producer that attempts to proceed with an unlawful price for the sale of bundle/sachet water shall face the full penalties of the law as stipulated in Section 65 of the SLEWRC Act of 2011.

 

 

IMdev Launches Gender Sensitive Media Project in Sierra Leone

By Tamba Tengbe

According to a release dated 30September 2019 it was indicated that the Initiatives for Media Development (IMdev) with funds from the international Programme for the Development of Communication, within the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will commence the implementation of a project titled: “Women’s Empowerment through Strengthened Gender Sensitive Media”.

From 1991 to 2002, Sierra Leone experienced a brutal civil war and about 120,000 people died and hundreds of thousands were displaced. Years on, enormous challenges remain for a country still struggling to throw off the legacy of war. Women in Sierra Leone are particularly at risk with Sierra Leone ranking 150 out of 189 countries – 2017 UNDP Gender Inequality Index.

In law, the women of Sierra Leone are guaranteed many rights, but few understand what their rights are with 29% of the women literate, and only 9.2% of with secondary education or higher. This makes it difficult for women to access positions of decision-making or authority, a situation exacerbated by patriarchal traditions. This situation is particularly pronounced in Sierra Leone’s media.

Media ownership is male-dominated and in the capital of Freetown, there are a few female-run radio stations. Not surprisingly, women’s issues are not always accurately portrayed, or addressed. Barriers and constraints facing the media include lack of training and professional development opportunities, lack of organizational support.

Sierra Leone’s national electoral processes in 2007 and 2012 for example witnessed an increasingly visible role of women as voters, candidates, representatives, protesters, journalists and civic educators in the home, the community and beyond. There were increased calls for female participation through civic advocacy groups such as the 50/50 movement and intense lobbying and negotiations for a 30% minimum inclusion of women in politics during the constitutional review process in 2016/2017.

However, women in Sierra Leone still struggle to consolidate in the struggle, overcome stereotypes and most often falter and breed disillusionment in political processes. In such a complex context of male superiority and dominance, political processes require the introduction of a granular gender lens which can present a new framework that accounts for all forms of gender-specific documentation and responses to breaking the mould of exclusion.

In April 2015, in a study conducted on women peace and security by the Initiatives for Media Development (IMdev) with support from the World Association of Christian Churches (WACC) through the Global Media Monitoring Project noted that 39% of women were directly quoted, compared to 60% of men in addition to the insignificant presence of women in the news reports overall.

Three years on in 2018, IMdev with funding from UNWomen on ‘Who Makes the News- 2018 Elections project’ collected empirical research from the print as well as the electronic media, covering 20 media houses in the 16 political districts and the evidences pointed to the fact that newspapers and TV outlets, especially, are unwilling to open the space for women to freely express themselves. This runs counter to the ideals of a free and pluralistic media, which among other considerations, not only calls for multiple voices but also diverse sources, including a fair and robust gender representation.

“This apparent stifling of women’s voices in the public arena, and the tendency to look at public issues from a male perspective, and by extension, influencing public policy with a male-dominated narrative, is no doubt, contributing to the undernourishment of our fragile democracy in Sierra Leone,” says IMdev Executive Director, Yeama Sarah Thompson.

IMdev proposed to implement this project in collaboration with local media partners through these principal activities.

  1. Investigative Fellowships for journalists
  2. Newsroom mentorship of journalists
  3. Editors and Owners’ Forums
  4. Leadership in Media Training

 

 

Henrietta Mbawah Foundation to Release ‘Pikin Fo B Pikin’ Movie in Sierra Leone

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Henrietta Mbawah Foundation, a non-governmental organization that advocates for women and girls empowerment, in partnership with Diamond Line Entertainment, will be releasing a new movie titled: “PIKIN FO B PIKIN” which will be all over the country this October, 2019 to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child.

Speaking to this medium in an exclusive interview Sierra Leone’s award winning actress, screenwriter, Chief Executive Officer ‘Salone Lives Matter’ and Founder/Executive Director of the Henrietta Mbawah Foundation, the result-oriented Henrietta Mbawah disclosed that “PIKIN FO B PIKIN” is a movie that addresses the serious challenges faced by girls across the country as well as the expected roles and responsibilities of parents, communities, teachers, Government and the children themselves to ensure that these challenges are addressed.

She said that the movie will be premiered and distributed freely in all the district headquarter towns in the country which will enable many children to gain access to it.

She emphasized that the United Nations has been working tremendously to end Violence against Women and Girls but lamented that up till now women and girls still continue to suffer from various forms of violence

It against such a backdrop that she opined that violence against women and girls cannot be addressed by the United Nations alone, but called on all Sierra Leoneans to put hands on deck in order to end violence against women and girls in our beloved country.

“Our customs and traditions have subjected women and girls to inferior positions in this country. We have started the fight towards mitigating the plights of women in our society. Let’s continue our own united efforts to end it. Unless we unite as a nation under one purpose to do everything in our power to end violence against women and girls we will fail again and again,” she expressed pessimism.

She called on humanitarian organizations, individuals to support the Foundation in order for them to reach out to the 16 districts in the country with the premier and the free distribution of the movie to women and girls across the country hoping that such will equip them in handling the challenges they face.

“A nation where women and girls are marginalized can never achieve its true potentials,” she concluded.

 

New ‘Miss Sierra Leone’ Emerges

Enid Jones-Boston crowned Miss Sierra Leone 2019

By Amin Kef Sesay

On the 21st September 2019 the Miss Sierra Leone Limited held its annual pageant under the patronage of H.E the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone Fatima Bio.

16 intelligent, beautiful and passion driven young women from the 16 districts in Sierra Leone came forward to represent their districts and  people. The process kicked off in May with a scouting process that extended to the provinces and smaller towns within the country.

After weeks of grooming, educational activities and some in-camp preliminary competitions, the contestants competed at the Bintumani international conference center for the title of Miss Sierra Leone 2019.

The 5 month process ended when Miss Western Area Rural (Enid Jones-Boston) was crowned Miss Sierra Leone 2019. This year’s pageant was focused on celebrating unity in diversity as Miss Sierra Leone Limited believe that if everyone in our nation were as united as the 16 contestants were, then our country will be a great place.

Miss Kono, Christana Sia Johnson and Miss Kailhun, Mariama Kanneh won the title of 1st and 2nd runners up respectively.

As we look forward to the Winner representing our country at the 69th edition of the Miss World beauty pageant in London this December. The organizers of Miss Sierra Leone are very optimistic about what the future holds for all the young women that participated as they were all encouraged to launch causes that were after their hearts.

The winner of Miss Sierra Leone 2019 Miss Enid Jones Boston bagged

  • A brand new Suzuki Jimny worth about $20,000
  • Cash price of 12 million Leones
  • Salary for a period of 12 months
  • Incentive of $500 for her trip to Miss World 2019
  • Return ticket to the UK for her and a family member

The 1st runner up Miss Christiana Johnson got:

  • Cash price of 8 Million Leones
  • A return ticket from Air Maroc to any country of her choice(serviced by Air Maroc)

The 2nd Runner up Miss Mariama M.J Kanneh scooped:

  • Cash price of 5 Million Leones
  • Return ticket to Ghana from Africa World Airlines

 

Sierra Leonean Women Deserve Liberation from Marginalization

By Amin Kef Sesay

Gender inequality is one that we have been grappling with for a very long period of time now. In this country, women have been relegated to the lower rung of society in most communities. There is the notion that they must be retained on the farmlands and kitchen, do all the domestic chores and raise up the children under difficult economic times.

The issue of Gender Based Violence is one that has become so endemic to such an extent that it has become so nauseating and continues to blight the future of our young girls and women. Most of the victims in rural areas do not have access to justice for human rights violations as Courts are not in close proximity. For most, the future remains bleak as they continue to suffer in silence.

Within the realm of national decision making, women do not have the required space to make meaningful inputs or contributions because they are politically marginalized in certain ways.

Close to the country’s last Presidential and Parliamentary elections (2018) women who showed interest in vying for the Presidential and Parliamentary seats were intimidated by supporters of opposing candidates. In some cases they were physically assaulted and interestingly enough they did not get the required support from their fellow women. All of these discouraged them from continued participation in the political process which is why they are few around, disappointedly against their wishes.

It is against this bleak backdrop that various rights-based organizations and feminine pressure groups have been piling pressure for the inequality gap to be narrowed, for more empowerment and access to justice.

Of course, the Government of Sierra Leone has the legal and policy frameworks and laws to promote gender equality and protect the rights of women. Parliament has enacted a number of laws which include the Gender Justice Laws: the Domestic Violence Act, the Registration of the Customary and Divorce Act, the Devolution of the Estate Act; and the Child Rights Act.

The national policy frameworks are there, including the Advancement of Women (2000), the National Policy on Gender Mainstreaming (2000), the Sierra Leone National Action Plan for Full Implementation of United Nations Resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008) (SILNAP), 2009-2014, Sierra Leone National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence (2012-2016) and the Agenda for Prosperity (2013-2018).

All these laws and policy frameworks derive their legal basis from the 1991 Constitution, which, though not specific about women’s rights states in Article 15 that:

“—— every person in Sierra Leone is entitled to the fundamental human rights and freedoms of the individual, that is to say, has the right, whatever his race, tribe, place of origin, political opinion, colour, creed or sex,——-”

For the achievement of gender equality in Sierra Leone, the Government has to identify and address the obstacles, including inconsistencies in some of the laws, preventing the full and effective implementation of the current laws and policies. Most importantly, the 1991 constitution will have to be amended with full and active participation of women in order to make it relevant to everyone in Sierra Leone including women and girls.

Furthermore, Sierra Leone is a signatory to many international and regional human rights instruments that uphold gender equality and women’s empowerment.  These laws and policies form the legal basis for gender equality and their full and effective implementation will enhance gender relations and engender the protection and promotion of women’s rights in the country, which is a sign of commitment to mainstream gender into all its laws, policies and programmes.

Added to issues of legal justice and human rights is environment and disaster management. Women and men have distinct roles in using and managing the environment and are also differently impacted by environment disasters. For example in Sierra Leone, women and girls in most communities are usually responsible for fetching water for drinking, cooking, cleaning and gardening and fuel wood for cooking. Many women and girls in Sierra Leone also cover long distances daily in search of firewood while others stand in long queues for hours to collect water.

The men on the other hand are responsible for “major” economic activities like growing of cash crops, mining and building of homes. Furthermore even though environmental degradation can adversely affected every human being, women being in the most vulnerable sector of most society, can be disproportionately impacted.

For example during the outbreak of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) in 2014 and the mud slide of 2017 in Sierra Leone, women did not only suffer as victims, but had to care for affected loved ones as well as take headship of affected families. As a result of these differing gender roles, women and men have different stakes in environmental and disaster management.

In addition majority of Sierra Leonean women live in poor settlements characterized by lack of basic necessities such as descent housing, safe drinking water and waste disposal systems.  Therefore, Sierra Leonean women’s decisive roles in managing and preserving natural resources including water and land are fundamental.

Strategic actions

  • Provide training on human rights, Gender laws and international instruments protecting women’s and children’s rights, targeting women’s groups, traditional and religious leaders and law enforcement agencies
  • Engage media houses to produce and present Radio/TV programmes on women’s rights
  • Strengthen the capacity of GFPs in sectors and MDAs to monitor the implementation of laws protecting women and children and to receive and investigate abuses against women in workplaces
  • Permanently deploy Judges and Magistrates in all districts and provide incentives including remote allowances and housing for those in remote areas and encourage Magistrates to seat mobile courts within the chiefdoms
  • Provide adequate logistics and human resource for the courts and police including vehicles, cameras, notebooks, phones, relevant forms for completion by victims/survivors of GBV and safe, secure and private locations for interviewing of especially victims/survivors of GBV

It is the strong conviction that if these strategic measures are effectively implemented to the letter issues relating to Gender Based Violence, women access to justice and in generality women emancipation as well as empowerment then we could change the narrative entirely in order for women to take their rightful places in society.

The Media Reform Coordinating Group through its constituent organisations, Women in the Media Sierra Leone, Independent Radio Network (IRN) and the Guild of Newspapers Editors (GoE), is leading a campaign on ‘Improving Women’s Political Participation’ supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The two key activities are ‘Media Campaigns to disseminate different instruments on women, peace and security’ and ‘Capture and showcase the contribution of women to governance and peacebuilding efforts.’ This article is part of MRCG’s public education campaign on the different instruments guaranteeing women’s peace and security and showcasing their contributions to governance and peacebuilding initiatives.

 

 

 

NP-Sierra Leone Remains Committed to Offer the Best

By Amin Kef Sesay

The National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited, NP (SL-Ltd) is tirelessly working round the clock, engaging oil producing companies in business discussions, to always ensure that supply is continually flowing in or maintained. This pro-activeness, on the part of the company, has made it quite possible for stocks to last over periods of time in order to avert the occurrence of shortages.

Interestingly, NP-SL is not a Government entity or appendage; no politician has a share in it as its shareholders are mere ordinary Sierra Leoneans, starting with 35 of them who some time ago bought shares from the Government out of their end of service benefits to establish what today has become a towering entity (NP-SL) to reckon with in the business landscape.

As had been fallaciously propagated by certain ill-motivated persons, who do not mean well for this country, that there are certain politicians that have vested interests in the company, our investigations have proven otherwise.

NP-SL is a 100% indigenous company to the letter and it has weathered various storms that could have dwarfed it or left it to extinct save therapeutic intermittent Managerial injections that keep it upright and on the right course.

Demonstrating its true Sierra Leonean identity the company has maintained a policy of strictly adhering to the Local Content Policy ensuring that it has a maximum indigenous staff in its employ. What this actually means is empowering our brothers and sisters to access employment opportunities and reduce poverty.

As a matter of fact some of its members continue to benefit from various trainings that have afforded them the conduit to imbibe useful skills to efficiently carry out certain tasks. If we are counting the number of companies that have upheld the Local Content Policy, without any iota of doubt, NP-SL could be seen at the top.

This intrinsic nationalistic posture of the company runs through and it is a sine qua non to overall national development. If such a compliance rate should have been followed by other local companies, willingly, without any pressure from the relevant authorities then indisputably this country should have been miles away in its development trajectory.

Business Management experts have made it abundantly clear that the way and manner in which customers are cared for in terms of talking to them, making them feel at ease go a long way in attracting them. Such should be done sincerely in order to make them more important. NP-SL for a very long period now has mastered that art and executing it so well which definitely is paying dividends.

1st for Customer Care was earned by the company because it has been widely acclaimed by many for solidly executing such.

In its drive to optimize customer satisfaction the company went the extra mile to install calibrated pumping machines which are not only modern but trustworthy, as opposed to old pumping machines which certain unscrupulous individuals used to cheat unassuming customers.

This is helping to repose confidence in customers that they are dealing with a very transparent entity. The friendliness of their pump attendants is very impressive and they are always there to timely respond to various concerns.

Still within the purview of 1st for Customer Care, the company is always in position to enter into payment plans with its reliable and dependable customers including Ministries, Departments and Agencies for supplied fuel and lubricants as long as all the necessary modalities have been put in place.

When cognizance is taken of the fact that some of these institutions receive intermittent budgetary allocations then such an arrangement is very significant. Its significance in real terms borders on functional continuity of those institutions as they will be assured of supplies of petroleum products in as much as they keep honoring their obligations.

For those who have not tried NP Gas for the first time it is now time to give it a try. Designed in sizable varying cylinders and sold at various NP Filling Stations, this cooking device has been rated as one of the best that is on offer for sale. NP Gas is safe, user friendly and portable. Trying it will spur you to recommend it to others.

NP Smart Card is now in vogue and is one of the latest technological devices used to purchase petroleum products. Using it has attendant advantages as evident in procuring fuel at any time of the day even during times when monies could not be accessed from banks. It is secured, easy to use and very quick. It is now trending.

To crystallize proposed projects into tangible realities on the ground, Government needs the required financial resources to effectively do so and one sure way is from collection of taxes which is the mandate of the National Revenue Authority (NRA).  NP is one big tax payer to Government and it has been doing so timely.

NP-SL remains undaunted, unperturbed amidst all the challenges it is going through and conscientiously it is steadily contributing to the socio-economic development of the country as well as  positively changing communities and lives.

 

 

 

 

Africell Sierra Leone Bags President Bio’s Warmest Commendation

President Dr. Julius Maada Bio

By Amin Kef Sesay

In a highly impressed and elated mood in the United States of America, His Excellency, The President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio showered profuse praises on Sierra Leone’s leading telecommunications service provider, Africell, for showcasing the country’s potentials that will attract direct foreign investment from the United States of America and other parts of the world.

President Bio lauded Africell for organizing a business platform to inform potential foreign investors about the strong political will that his New Direction Government is demonstrating to provide the enabling environment for various business investments as well as telling them of the friendliness of Sierra Leoneans.

Dr. Julius Maada Bio departed Sierra Leone last month to attend the 74th United Nations General Assembly. While in New York President Bio met with potential investors and the business community in the U. S to persuade them to think of investing in Sierra Leone.

Remarkably, Africell is helping to bring together business people from divergent backgrounds to help in the socio-economic development of the country.

The President hailed the company for hosting a program and used its authentic voice to persuade top companies in the U. S to come and invest in Sierra Leone. “What pleases me most about Africell is that instead of them allowing me to talk about my country, they took the mantle themselves to talk about their experiences, their huge successes and how the country is good for potential investments,” President Bio stated with pride.

He also added that Africell is the most authentic voice to sell the country adding that what they said is as a result of what they are familiar with highlighting how such is the reason why they still remain as the number one telecommunications service provider in Sierra Leone.

“Africell is the only company that has never changed its name. They are still expanding and making progress since it started operations,” Dr. Bio intimated.

President Julius Maada Bio continued that with funding from the U. S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), Africell stands as an example that should spur or serve as an impetus for other U. S. supported companies to take advantage of Sierra Leone business environment.

Africell MD, Shadi Gerjawi

The President was speaking during an exclusive interview with Mustapha Bai Attila from the United States of America.

 

 

 

 

 

‘Poor Conditions of service…’  No excuse for teachers to be corrupt in Sierra Leone

COMMENTARY

By Amin Kef Sesay

When confronted with the allegation that they are the true enemies of standards and progress of the nation’s educational system, teachers are quick to defend them-selves by saying they should not be blamed because they are poorly paid and have miserable conditions of service.

To any sound minded person who knows that teaching and the religious callings are purely sacrificial roles in society that are crucially important for any society’s intellectual upbringing and spiritual growth and development, there is no excuse why teachers on whom the rest of humanity depend on for education should deviate from their calling and put money over vocation.

Nobody, no Government coerces anybody to go into the teaching field. Educated, everybody who chooses to go into the teaching field for whatever reason does so at his/her own volition. If he/she thinks the salary and conditions of service are not good, that person can easily find another job in another field.

That said, actions that a Government and its partners take in education greatly impact the work of teachers because teachers are at the frontline of the movement to achieve quality education for all every single day.

That is why their engagements in the policy and planning process are critical. Their insights, experiences and needs must be central considerations to charting the roadmap for achieving education goals.

It is for example common to enter into a classroom in urban schools and see hundred children of different ages and background hardly focusing and a single teacher.

That teacher standing before that class reminded me of what I see in many schools – heroism.  Faced with what seemed like insurmountable challenges, the teacher who may not be well educated tries to teach what he does not understand.

Education should be available to every child in every village to every poor child in every village, and not just the privileged few. That should be the goal of the entire education system, starting with the availability of enough trained and qualified teachers in the classrooms.

As such, getting children through the classroom door is not enough. Ensuring that they are learning is the critical piece, and more teachers and better teaching lie at the heart of any solution to the learning crisis – meaning many teachers need to be recruited far above the current supply – considering the ratio of trained teachers to students in many schools – particularly village schools.

Achieving equity in education will require a focus on access and learning outcomes, aimed at the hardest to reach children. This goal is about quality, and the quality of an education system cannot rise above the quality of the teachers that stand in the classrooms.

Thus, first and foremost, the Government’s effort to provide free quality education has to prioritize investment in teachers through improved salaries and incentives, the construction of teacher training centers, and teacher training activities.

Government and partners also need to provide funding that supports the engagement of teachers in national processes and research into best practices in teaching and learning. The aim is to engage teachers in discussions around teaching effectiveness, quality of education and the implementation of innovative approaches for teacher training.

Increased investments in the educational sector should result in decrease in classroom sizes and repetition rates, an increase in girls’ enrolment and in primary completion overall.

Improved conditions of service for teachers will result in improved teachers’ effectiveness without which educational outcomes would remaining appalling for the majority that take graduation public exams.

 

 

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