The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) has held its second stakeholder consultation with Leh Wi Learn and T-TEL to deepen collaboration on teacher education reform in Sierra Leone.
The meeting, held at the Ministry’s conference room in New England Ville, brought together senior ministry officials, including the Minister, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, and representatives from both organizations.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Wurie expressed appreciation for the sustained partnership and highlighted the importance of regional collaboration in advancing education across Africa. She emphasized that the reform efforts aim to prepare teachers with emerging skills in digital literacy and soft skills, while promoting uniform standards across teacher training institutions. The Minister also underscored the need to strengthen the technical and vocational education pathway, noting that many qualified students still lack placement opportunities in higher education.
Dr. Mohamed Barrie, Team Leader of Leh Wi Learn, explained that the consultation followed earlier discussions held in July during a MasterCard Foundation visit. He said the upcoming initiative will prioritize teacher training institutions, stressing that improving secondary education depends on better teacher preparation. He added that the programme would be locally led, flexible, and span six years, beginning around July next year, aligning with national education priorities and development plans supported by the World Bank and GPE.
MTHE’s Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer, Dr. Josephus Brimah, emphasized that training programmes must be need-driven and outcome-oriented, serving as measurable components for evaluating results. He noted that all programmes accredited by the National Council for Technical and Vocational Education (NCTVE) must meet national standards, including those at Teacher’s Certificate (TC), Higher Teacher’s Certificate (HTC), and BSc Education levels.
Acting Deputy Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer, Sia Fasuluku, commended the collaboration while identifying key gaps in the sector. She stressed the need for a pre-service teacher policy, greater support for early childhood education, and stronger inclusion strategies for children with disabilities.
Senior officials from the Ministry reiterated the importance of practical teacher preparation and robust quality assurance systems to ensure graduates are equipped to meet evolving classroom demands.
Representatives from T-TEL outlined plans to conduct a nationwide assessment of teacher training institutions, focusing on existing programmes, faculty capacity, learning environments, and practical training. The findings will inform a comprehensive proposal to the MasterCard Foundation to further strengthen teacher education in Sierra Leone.
