By: Aminata Sesay
Education stakeholders in Pujehun District have called for increased support for schools, teachers and communities to improve literacy and foundational learning among children and adults.
The call was made on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, during activities marking International Literacy Day in Yonni Town, Kpanga Chiefdom, with support from the Sierra Leone Adult Education Association (SLADEA).
The commemoration brought together schoolchildren, teachers, women, youth, education stakeholders and community members to discuss the importance of literacy to education and national development.
Speaking to Pujehun Daily News, Thomas W. Abu, Assistant Deputy Director at the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) in Pujehun District, said literacy remains central to the development of individuals and communities.
He said the observance provided an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on challenges affecting literacy and the need to ensure that children attending school acquire the basic skills required to read, write and learn effectively.
Abu said MBSSE continues to focus on access, equity, school completion and the quality of education, while also promoting learning opportunities for adults.
He cited the District of Excellence Programme, implemented in Pujehun with support from MBSSE and EducAid, as part of ongoing efforts to keep children in school, improve their safety and strengthen learning outcomes.
Lucy Peppeh, Headmistress of Wesley UMC Primary School in Pujehun, said improving literacy requires the involvement of all stakeholders, not schools alone.
She called for stronger collaboration among parents, communities, schools, government institutions and development partners, saying such cooperation is essential to creating an environment where children can develop strong literacy skills.
The stakeholders also stressed the need for continued investment in teachers, teaching and learning materials, reading programmes and community participation.
The observance ended with renewed calls for stakeholders to sustain efforts to address learning challenges and improve literacy outcomes across Pujehun District.