EDUCATION POLICY

The latest Education Policy document available is from July 1995, named “New Education Policy for Sierra Leone”. Its situation analysis is outdated, but the issues and priorities discussed remains in general the same as of today.

From the Foreword of the 1995 policy

The 1980s saw Sierra Leone in rapid economic decline primarily because of an inefficient trade system and great indiscipline in public sector management.

The 1990s saw Sierra Leone under rebel attack and spending much of its revenue on military hardware whilst at the same time having to cope with displaced citizens totalling over 20% of the total population as well as an influx of Liberian refugees equivalent to 5% of the indigenous population. The resultant effect on the economy has been devastating.

 

Until very recently the educational system was in 'shambles'. As its contribution to reversing this began to implement a wide ranging National Education Action Plan to support the recently introduced 6-3-3-4 System of Education and the Basic Education Reform. “

 

The latter is intended, among other things to ensure the provision of basic education for the majority of the population and to enhance the participation of women and girls in education.

 

This document outlines government’s policy on education at all levels in three parts: Part I is divided into three sections. In Section A a situation analysis is presented. Section B is the Executive Summary and in Section C the Economic and Educational Background to the policy is presented. Part II provides the Context and Detailed Statements regarding government’s plans for education.[…]Part III itemizes and makes explicit the aims and objectives of the various sections of education covered in this document and the policy statements applicable to each.

© DACO/SLIS August 2008