By: Saidu Jalloh
At the 2026 budget policy hearing held at the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) requested NLe 1,422,435.70 under the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework to strengthen the country’s education sector.
Deputy Director of Education, John Ansumana, clarified that the mandate of the Ministry is to plan, oversee, and implement policies and regulations across all levels from pre-primary to senior secondary education. He stressed that MBSSE continues to collaborate with statutory bodies such as the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to ensure quality delivery and effective policy implementation.
Mr. Ansumana disclosed that in 2024 and 2025, the Ministry recruited a total of 2,198 teachers under a new deployment protocol, designed to promote equity in teacher distribution across the country. According to him, this approach has helped reduce teacher shortages in underserved areas.
He further highlighted notable improvements in learning conditions, pointing to an increase in schools equipped with Science Laboratories and the phased removal of the double-shift system, which has allowed more students to access better classroom environments.
Updating stakeholders on digital inclusion, Mr. Ansumana revealed that 42 schools have been connected to the internet through the GIGA Project, while 2,000 out-of-school girls were successfully reintegrated into formal schools across four districts.
He also reported that fifteen districts benefited from the school feeding program, and 59 Early Childhood Centres were constructed to support foundational learning. In addition, teacher licensure examinations were conducted for over 17,878 teachers across all 16 districts, with a 46% pass rate. Furthermore, 201 schools have been connected to solar mini-grid power, expanding access to clean energy in rural communities.
Looking ahead to the 2026 fiscal year, Mr. Ansumana outlined several priority areas including provision of teaching and learning materials to 10,827 public and community schools; expansion of the school feeding program to reach one million students nationwide;
continuation of mini-grid electrification and internet connectivity projects for 500 schools to enhance digital literacy; and supply of classroom furniture to eliminate double-shift schooling in at least 100 schools.
He emphasized that these initiatives are critical to consolidating the gains made under the Free Quality School Education (FQSE) program and to ensuring that access, equity, and quality remain at the heart of Sierra Leone’s education reforms.