The Government of Sierra Leone, in partnership with UNICEF, has launched a nationwide initiative aimed at transforming foundational learning for children from pre-primary through Grade Four, as part of a *US$50 million Global Partnership for Education (GPE) grant awarded to the government.
UNICEF Education Specialist Chelsea LaVallee disclosed this while speaking at the Atlantic Hotel in Freetown.
LaVallee explained that the programme focuses on strengthening children’s literacy, numeracy and social-emotional development, describing these skills as critical building blocks for lifelong learning, employment and national development.
She noted that ongoing teacher training is equipping educators in public schools with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively use newly developed teaching and learning materials. The training also promotes a child-centred approach that encourages exploration, creativity and active participation in the classroom.
Emphasising UNICEF’s focus on early childhood education, LaVallee said international evidence consistently shows that investment in the earliest years of a child’s life produces the greatest educational returns.
She disclosed that the programme is being implemented in more than*5,500 primary schools and approximately 3,000 pre-primary schools nationwide, reaching an estimated 1.6 million children across Sierra Leone.
Participants in the refresher training also praised the initiative for strengthening their professional capacity.
Bintu Dumbuya of Milton Margai Technical University described the programme as a valuable opportunity that has enhanced both her knowledge and confidence to train nursery school teachers across the country.
She said the refresher course reinforced practical approaches to play-based learning and deepened her understanding of the structured daily schedule used in preschool classrooms. The schedule includes welcome activities, circle time, planning for play, choice play, outdoor activities, hygiene routines, workgroup sessions and closing reflections.
According to Dumbuya, the child-centred methodology represents a significant shift from traditional teacher-led instruction by allowing children to actively participate in their own learning while developing socially, emotionally and intellectually.
Gibrilla Bailor Kanu, a teacher at Orthodox Christian Primary School, also described the training as transformative. He said it had strengthened his teaching skills and reinforced the importance of play as an effective learning strategy.
Kanu explained that the programme encourages teachers to move away from the traditional “repeat-after-me” approach and instead engage children through songs, games, movement and interactive classroom activities that foster creativity, confidence and critical thinking.
He commended the teacher guides, children’s workbooks and structured daily classroom schedules introduced under the programme, noting that they provide practical tools for organizing lessons and improving learning outcomes.
Both educators expressed confidence that the knowledge gained through the refresher training would be transferred to teachers across Sierra Leone, ultimately improving the quality of early childhood education and laying a stronger foundation for future generations of learners.