In support of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio’s Free Quality Education initiative, the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH), has officially launched a nationwide Training of Trainers (TOT) program on the use of First Aid Kits in schools in Bo City on March 26, 2025.
The three-day training began on Tuesday, March 26, 2025, in Bo City and will run through March 28.
This training is a key activity under the school health subcomponent of the Free Education Project, supported by a Multi-Donor Trust Fund led by the World Bank. It aims to enhance child health and safety in educational spaces by equipping teachers with practical first aid skills and a deeper understanding of their duty of care.
The TOT brings together 152 teachers, including MBSSE and MOH staff from various districts, who will serve as facilitators for district-level training sessions planned across the country. The goal is to train teachers in 8,187 government and government-assisted pre-primary, primary, and junior secondary schools.
Deputy Minister II of MBSSE, Madam Mamusu Patrick Komeh, officially opened the training with a heartfelt speech highlighting the critical role teachers play in protecting students’ well-being. “This training goes beyond first aid; it reminds every teacher of the duty of care we owe to the children in our charge.
Their safety, health, and development must be central to how we teach, how we observe, and how we respond,” she said. She shared personal stories of her own school experiences, stressing the trust children and parents place in educators and the importance of teachers remaining alert to behavioural and health changes in students. “As educators, we are their first responders and their trusted adults. This training strengthens that bond and prepares us to act,” she added.
Speaking during the session, Project Coordinator Ambrose Sesay reminded participants of the massive scale of the initiative and the responsibility they carry. “Out of the 8,187 schools receiving First Aid Kits, 5,410 are primary schools, 1,460 are junior secondary schools, and 1,317 are pre-primary schools,” he noted.
He emphasized the practical importance of the training in school settings: “As teachers, you are often the first line of defense in a child’s life. This training empowers you with the knowledge and confidence to respond quickly and responsibly in emergencies. The well-being of our pupils depends on your readiness,” he said.
Leading the sessions is Madam Patricia Bah, Program Manager for the School and Adolescent Health Programme at the Ministry of Health. The training covers key areas such as the School Health Policy, emergency response procedures, injury prevention, and referral protocols. It also incorporates the Comprehensive School Safety Policy and the FRESH (Focusing Resources on Effective School Health) Framework.
The First Aid Kits to be distributed were designed jointly by MBSSE and MOH to ensure all schools receive standardized, effective supplies. Following the training in Bo, district-level trainings will continue in April across all districts nationwide.
The initiative is expected to significantly improve the capacity of teachers to respond to school health emergencies, increase student safety, and contribute to the long-term success of the Free Education Project.