The government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), has launched the digital version of the country’s school census. The launch of the 2021 Annual School Census (ASC) in Freetown on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, attracts government and private sector, local and international partners.
The report details the ministry's achievements over four years (2018-2021), including a 13% increase in the number of schools from 10,747 to 12,168 schools and a 78% increase in the number of approved schools from 4,872 to 8,676 schools.
Increased government financial and material support to public schools by 56%, from 4,387 to 6,829 schools; a 37% increase in student enrollment from 1,982,475 to 3,131,440 students; and an 8% decrease in the number of teachers on a roll in classrooms, from 87,625 to 80,744 teachers, due to a direct policy intervention that removed "ghost" teachers from the payroll.
The report shows a total of 12,168 schools across the country were enumerated with 3,131,440 pupils enrolled and 80,744 teachers. Out of the 12,168 schools covered in the ASC report, more than two-thirds of them are public schools (10,124, or 83.3%) compared to private schools (2,044, or 16.7%).
More than half of the schools (7,429) in Sierra Leone, accounting for 61.0%, are primary schools, followed by pre-primary schools (1,984 (16.3%), 1,931 junior secondary schools (15.7%), and 824 senior secondary schools (6.7%).
The World Bank's Senior Education Specialist in Sierra Leone, Mari Shojo, said, "Sierra Leone is the only country in Africa to have digitalized the Annual School Census." She commended the ministry for going digital.
The World Bank Senior Education Specialist reaffirmed their support for data collection, stating, "The census shows the mapping of where schools are located and their challenges. She encouraged "Data is very important for local partners and it can be used globally, "she said.
The Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Dr. Moinina David Sengeh, described the report as something he has always looked forward to, especially as a Chief Innovation Officer.
He said, "Every child counts. While access, equity, and completion are the prime metrics of the government in the Free Quality School Education (FQSE) program, more variables need to be monitored and tracked.
"Our objective is to increase the number of children getting access to school irrespective of location, disability, economic status, cultural practice, etc. by building and refurbishing schools and providing teaching and learning materials and furniture."
"Supporting school feeding in pre-primary and primary schools in 14 districts; fees and subsidies paid to schools; and the payment of examination fees for all public exams to the West African Examination Council (WAEC)."
He said, "The government has developed and approved a radical inclusion policy to give access to all, including pregnant schoolgirls and children with disabilities."
Inquiry: asankoh@education.gov.sl
The Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Dr. Moinina David Sengeh
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