By: Saidu Jalloh
The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) has partnered with the Doctrina Foundation to introduce a phonics-based foundational literacy programme aimed at improving reading skills among early learners in Sierra Leone.
The initiative was discussed during a meeting held in the Ministry’s conference room in Freetown. According to MTHE’s Deputy Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer, Sia Fasuluku, the programme was introduced through the humanitarian arm of the Latter-day Saints (LDS) Church and is designed as an after-school reading intervention. The structured phonics model incorporates books, music, storytelling, and step-by-step letter blending to strengthen foundational reading skills.
Fasuluku explained that the programme aligns with national education reforms following the 2018 Early Grade Reading and Mathematics Assessments. She added that the content has been contextualized to reflect Sierra Leonean culture and realities. The Ministry also plans to integrate the approach into teacher training institutions to support both pre-service and in-service teachers.
Chief Executive Officer of the Doctrina Foundation, Michael Madsen, stated that the four-month reading programme was developed over a 16-year period by U.S. preschool educators. He noted that 96 percent of participating preschool learners in the United States were able to read at Grade One or Two level before entering kindergarten. The programme has also been implemented in Ghana and Papua New Guinea, reaching thousands of children.
Madsen proposed piloting the initiative in Sierra Leone with a selected group of teachers and pupils, supported by comprehensive training and locally adapted instructional materials.
Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Haja Ramatulai Wurie, welcomed the partnership and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening human capital development. She disclosed that the pilot phase will involve training 10 teachers, distributing learning materials, and assessing students’ progress after five months, with the potential for nationwide expansion.
The Minister further encouraged parental and community involvement, noting that adult literacy support at home could reinforce children’s learning. She assured government backing for the initiative, including consideration of tax exemptions on educational materials.
MTHE’s Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer, Dr. Josephus Brimah, emphasized the importance of phonics instruction, stating that children must “learn to read before they read to learn.” He recommended adopting a master trainer model to expand the methodology across districts, including rural communities.
Country Director of the Doctrina Foundation, Gyampoh Ernest, explained that the programme’s 15-minute lessons, conducted three times a week, are designed to build reading skills, comprehension, and confidence. He also highlighted a family-based learning approach that encourages parents and older siblings to support children’s literacy development at home.
The Ministry and the Foundation are expected to finalize modalities for the pilot implementation in the coming months.