Schools for Salone (SfS), a Seattle-based non-profit dedicated to supporting education in Sierra Leone, is intervening to support uncertified teachers in rural communities who work without being paid through its latest initiative.
These teachers volunteer and work tirelessly in rural community schools to help alleviate education inequality. However, they do not have government support. SfS recognizes their sacrifice and aims to address these issues.
Challenges Created by the FQEP
In 2018, the Sierra Leone government launched the Free Quality Education Programme (FQEP). The program aimed to make education accessible by covering feeding, school uniforms, tuition fees, exercise, and textbook fees for pre-primary, primary, and secondary school pupils.
While this was a significant step towards educational equity as it gave children from different backgrounds an equal opportunity to have education, it produced some new hurdles, one of them being the provision of teachers to cater to the increased number of students in schools.
With the growing number of school children in Sierra Leone, the demand for teachers has increased significantly. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Education (MoE) is unable to fund the salaries required to hire additional teachers.
To address the gap, SfS is stepping in to support uncertified teachers by sponsoring them through the distance learning program. This will help the teachers gain the necessary certification, which will not only enhance their teaching skills but also qualify them for the benefits under the FQEP.
By empowering these educators, SfS is ensuring that more school children receive the quality education they deserve, while also helping teachers secure better opportunities and compensation.
Uncertified but Undeterred
During a recent visit by members of SfS to the communities of Buma and Ngolehun near the Bo District, it was revealed that most teachers worked year round without getting paid. Only one teacher per school typically has the government recognised pin code from the FQEP, while the remaining teachers continue as uncertified volunteers.
Despite the lack of compensation, these teachers remain committed to educating the next generation. They face numerous challenges from limited resources to the ongoing struggle to cater for themselves and their families. Yet, their dedication to teach is never waived.
Schools for Salone’s Vital Support
Approximately 70 percent of the teachers in schools supported by SfS and throughout Sierra Leone are uncertified. To address this, the NGO sponsors teacher certification programmes, helping educators achieve the credentials needed to qualify for government salaries.
Through the Ministry of Education’s distance learning programme, SfS is helping these passionate teachers gain formal certification. SfS is inviting the global community to join their efforts in supporting these educators who are the backbone of rural education in Sierra Leone.
By donating to sponsor an uncertified teacher, you can directly impact the lives of those who dedicate themselves to nurturing and teaching the youth in Sierra Leone’s underserved areas.
Donate by visiting this LINK. By donating, you are sponsoring a teacher to complete a three-year Higher Teacher Certificate (HTC) therefore making a lasting difference in the lives of countless students and the communities they belong to.
About Schools For Salone
Founded two decades ago, Schools for Salone has become a beacon of hope in addressing educational inequalities in Sierra Leone. The NGO has built 44 schools, providing thousands of marginalized children access to education in the country. As another academic year begins, 16,500 students are set to return to Schools for Salone supported institutions, eager to learn and grow despite the challenges they face at home.
