NON-STATE ACTORS IN EDUCATION
2.2 Non-state education provision
3.1 Regulations by distinct levels of education
- Early childhood care and education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
- Primary and secondary education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
- Tertiary education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
3.3 Supplementary private tutoring
The Education Act (2004) regulates both state and non-state schools from pre-primary to tertiary education in Sierra Leone. A "private school" is defined as a school that receives no assistance from public funds; in addition, the Education Act (2004) allows schools to be established by individuals or legal persons, including faith-based organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and businesses.
2.1 State education provision
State schools
In Sierra Leone, both state and non-state actors provide education. Primary education (from age six), lower secondary education (from age 12), and upper secondary education (from age 15) are publicly funded. However, government-owned state schools (13.8%) account for a lower proportion of schools than those operated by non-state actors. According to the Education Act (2004), the duration of compulsory education is 12 years, from pre-primary to klower secondary education.
Non-state managed, state schools
No information was found.
Non-state funded, state schools
State education in Sierra Leone is financed by the state and by non-state contributions. Non-state contributions include contributions collected through parent-teacher associations and school management committees. Community teachers are paid through community contributions, other informal contributions, taxes, and fees paid by households. Public education in Sierra Leone has also benefited from aid, financial and technical assistance from international organisations and other international actors.
Independent, non-state schools
Private schools are owned, managed, and fully funded by private actors, who receive no subsidies from the government (16.2%). These schools can set their own curricula and learning standards. Examples include International Baccalaureate schools, the American school, the Global NGO School and Low-cost private schools.
State-funded (government-aided), non-state schools
In Sierra Leone, most education (70%) is provided by government-assisted schools in pre-primary, primary, junior secondary, and higher secondary. These schools include schools managed by faith-based organizations (mission schools - 56%) and community schools (14.1%), which are managed by the community. All government-assisted schools must follow the minimum academic national standards and are primarily financed through government subsidies. However, according to the new guidelines on Criteria for Schools Approval to Receive Financial Assistance from the Government/"Grants-in-Aid, government-assisted schools must fund at least 20% of their running costs. The government's subsidies can be distributed in the form of in-kind support and/or financial aid. Financial support consists of supporting teachers' salaries and providing grants or subsidies based on enrolment. On the other hand, non-financial support consists of providing teaching and learning materials, such as textbooks, furniture, sports equipment, paying examination fees or building infrastructure, such as classrooms, water and sanitation facilities (WASH).
Contracted, non-state schools
No information was found.
2.3 Other types of schools
Homeschooling
No information was found on homeschooling's legality in Sierra Leone; the Education Act (2004) specifies every child's obligation to attend primary and junior secondary school.
Market contracted (Voucher schools)
No information was found.
Unregistered/Unrecognised schools
Sierra Leone has recently enacted various policies and guidelines for the recognition of non-state educational institutions. Non-state educational institutions must apply for authorization and recognition. However, there are still unrecognized educational institutions that must apply for state recognition.
According to the Local Government Act (2004), Sierra Leone's education governance is decentralized. At the central level, the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) is the lead agency for the development, supervision and management from pre-primary to secondary level. ECCE is governed by the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), the Teaching Service Commission, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS), the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children's Affairs (MSWGCA), and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED). In 2021, the MBSSE launched the Intergraded Early Childhood Development (IECD) policy to ensure that children aged zero to eight have access to early childhood development (ECD) services. In higher education, the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education is responsible for the technical and tertiary level with the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC).
At the local level, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MoLGRD), through the District Education Officer and the Local Councils, is responsible for monitoring and inspecting state and non-state schools for all education levels.
Vision: The main development and education strategies in Sierra Leone are the 2018 Free Quality School Education (FQSE) and the National Development Plan 2019-2023. They follow previous development strategies and focus on addressing school and system level challenges. They point out that private and non-governmental organisations are crucial allies for the education sector after the civil war and Ebola crisis of 2014. In 2020, the Early Childhood Development Policy was developed. It aims to foster partnerships with non-state actors to ensure that all children aged 0-8 years have access to ECD services.
3.1 Regulations by distinct levels of education
Early childhood development (ECD) in Sierra Leone covers children aged zero to six through community centres (zero to two years old), pre-primary schools (three to six years old); the reception year (five to six years old) has been declared compulsory by the government. Most pre-primary education (ages three to six) is provided by non-state actors (91%), including community-based organisations (CBOs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), private sector providers and faith-based organisations (FBOs) - the latter being the largest provider (41%).Pre-primary institutions are under the section on Multi-level regulations.
Registration and approval: The 2021 Intergraded Early Childhood Development (IECD) policy provides for the development of licensing and quality assurance to regulate the establishment of early learning centres by government and non-government providers, such as private, faith-based and community-based providers, to improve compliance with national service standards. However, no specific licensing procedure for learning centres has been found. Currently, the Child Right Act (2007) stipulates that in order to establish a childcare centre, any person or provider must apply for a licence from the district council, accompanied by a prescribed fee and followed by an inspection to verify that the centre meets the required standards for licensing.
Licence: No information was found.
Profit-making: No information was found.
Taxes and subsidies: The Early Childhood Development (ECD) Policy draft recommends for the government to provide incentives to private sector establishments to contribute to the development of the ECD program.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: The Early learning Standards for Sierra Leone must be fulfilled by every state and non-state ECD center.
Teaching profession: No information was found.
Fee-setting: No information was found.
Admission selection and processes: No information was found.
Policies for vulnerable groups: No information was found.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Reporting requirements: No information was found.
Inspection: According to the Child Right Act (2007), the council shall inspect the premises, books, accounts and other records of a day-care center at least once every six months.
Child assessment: The 2021 Intergraded Early Childhood Development (IECD) policy includes as a strategy of the Area five on Support Positive Ealy Learning, the development of a play-based early learning assessment tool based on the Early Learning Standards for assessing progress across the domains of child development.
Sanctions: According to the Child Right Act (2007), if the centre is not run effectively in the interests of the children or does not comply with the conditions of its authorisation, the council may suspend the authorisation.
Registration and approval: See Multi-level regulations.
Licence: See Multi-level regulations.
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH): Every non-state educational facility must guarantee clean and potable water and adequate hygienic WASH facilities, and respect the female ratio pupil per toilet ratio, and separate toilets for female teachers and girls. Additionally, every school must include in their approval application the number of toilets for boys, girls, and teaching staff by sex in each institution. Assisted schools must include their emergency disaster preparedness in their application, including in the case of floods and fires.
Profit-making: No information was found.
Taxes and subsidies: See Multi-level regulations.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards:
Textbooks and learning materials: : Under the Free Quality School Education (FQSE), all teaching and learning materials, including textbooks, for government and government-assisted schools, are provided by the government. No information was found regarding private schools.
Teaching profession: See Multi-level regulations.
Corporal punishment: No prohibition on corporal punishment has been found specific to educational institutions, public or private. The Corporal Punishment Act was repealed by the 2007 Child Right Act, which states that "no correction of a child is justifiable if it is unreasonable in kind or degree according to the age, physical and mental condition of the child.
Other safety measures and COVID-19: No information was found.
Fee-setting: See Multi-level regulations.
Admission selection and processes: See Multi-level regulations.
Policies for vulnerable groups: In 2018, the Free Quality School Education (FQSE) was implemented by the government to increase free access to education across Sierra Leone. No information was found specific to children in private schools.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
School board: In 2018, the Free Quality School Education (FQSE) was implemented by the government to increase free access to education in Sierra Leone. No information was found specific to children in private schools.
Reporting requirements:
School inspection: See Multi-level regulations.
Student assessment: See Multi-level regulations.
Diplomas and degrees: No information was found.
Sanctions: See Multi-level regulations.
Registration and approval: For the establishment and operation of a private university in Sierra Leone, proprietors (person, association, charitable body, or other legal organization) must apply for approval from the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC). All private universities must submit for approval and comply with the established requirement on faculty qualifications, programmes/courses information, financial resources, infrastructure, and students’ financial support information. Higher education institutions are categorized according to the certificates they are authorized to award. In the case of universities, they are classified as "Category A, which allow them to award undergraduate degrees, certificates, diplomas and postgraduate degrees.
Licence: After a satisfactory assessment and payment of the registration fee, the private university will be assigned a TEC registration number. A temporary registration certificate is issued for a period of validity of three years, subject to annual renewals. In case of a satisfactory evaluation, a permanent certificate subject to a three-year review is issued. Private universities must pay an annual fee to the TEC to maintain their status.
Profit-making: No information was found.
Taxes and subsidies: No information was found.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: The Tertiary Education Commission requires private universities to submit their programmes/courses design, content mode(s) of delivery, duration and learning outcomes at the moment of applying for state authorization.
Teaching profession: The University Act (2005) grants private universities the freedom to hire, promote and dismiss academic staff. However, specific procedures must be followed, as stipulated in the law, in case of suspension or dismissal of staff members.
Fee-setting: Private universities must inform the Tertiary Education Commission of the salary scale for professors and the rate of fees to be paid by students, which must be clearly indicated.
Admission selection and processes: Every student who intends to enter university must pass the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). According to the University Act (2005), private universities can determine their students' admission criteria.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Board: Every private university must include as the university authorities a Court/Council, Senate, a Board of Trustee and a Board of Faculties or Schools headed by the Deans. Additionally, every private university must include the following officers in its structure: a Chancellor, a Vice-Chancellor, a Deputy Vice-Chancellor(s) or Rector(s), registrar and administrative staff, finance director, dean of faculties, heads of department, and examination controller.
Reporting requirements: The TEC responsibilities include the accreditation of the universities operating in Sierra Leone. Regulations cover the rules regarding the establishment, institutional standards, accreditation, and quality assessment.
Inspection: No information was found.
Assessment: Consultations have been made to develop a policy guideline for examinations in Tertiary Education institutions, however, no document has been enacted.
Diplomas and degrees: Approved universities can grant degrees and certificates to their students. Some private universities use testing examinations from international-recognized professional certificates.
Sanctions: If a private university ceases to comply with the requirements for its authorization or is financially insolvent or bankrupt, the Commission may cancel the approval given to the university.
3.2 Multi-level regulations
This section covers regulations on the establishment, operation, and quality of non-state institutions from pre-primary to secondary education level, based on the Education Act (2004).
Registration and approval: According to the Education Act (2004), all non-state schools must obtain state authorization to operate in Sierra Leone. All pre-primary, primary, and junior secondary schools' providers must apply to the Chairperson of the Education committee at their local authority; senior secondary education providers must apply to the Chief Education Officer for approval. According to the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education and the Guidelines on Approval to Establish and Operate a School and/or Obtain assistance from the Government (2020), non-government schools in Sierra Leone must apply to Level one for the approval to establish and operate a school in Sierra Leone. Level two is optional and concerns the authorisation to receive financial assistance from the government. According to the Guidelines on Approval to Establish and Operate a School, level one requirements include compliance with the infrastructure requirements such as evidence of ownership/rent/lease of land to be occupied by the school, environmental and safety assessments, compliance with the MBSSE school construction guidelines and standards, teachers certificates, and evidence of sufficient financial resources.
Licence: Schools that do not meet all the criteria for approval may be granted provisional approval and given up to 10 months, after which they will be inspected again and must meet all the criteria for full approval or lose their provisional approval status. According to the Guidelines on Approval to Establish and Operate a School, schools are reassessed by the MBSSE every three years to confirm that they still meet the standards under which they were approved.
Taxes and subsidies: After being granted recognition, mission/religious/trustee or community schools can apply to become a government-assisted school. Applicants must follow the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE)'s guidelines on school approval to receive financial assistance. State financial assistance may take the form of payment of salaries for a specific number, category or type of teachers and/or payment of grants or subsidies based on enrolment or development plan, provision of textbooks, teaching materials, furniture, sports equipment and provision of infrastructure such as WASH facilities.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: The Education Act (2004) was established for assisted schools to comply with the National Curriculum Framework & Guidelines for Basic Education. In contrast, private schools can develop their academic structure.
Teaching profession: According to the Education Act (2004), all teachers must have the required minimum qualifications to teach at a specific level. Teachers at government-assisted schools are managed and oversight by the Teacher Service Commission Act (2011). In contrast, private school teachers are independent workers, and the school owner pays their salaries. The 2020 guidelines on approval to establish and operate a school and/or obtain assistance from the government specifies that all assisted schools must have at least a quarter of their teaching staff with the proper qualifications and training. According to the 2020 Teacher Registration and Licensing Policy, all teachers (national and foreigners) must apply for license and registration and comply with the minimum academic qualification and general qualification and conditions for registration.
Fee-setting: According to the Education Act (2004), every private school is free to set its tuition fees. Tuition fees must be determined at the beginning of each year, and if the MBSSE considers them to be unreasonable, it may request changes in tuition fees.
Admission selection and processes: No information was found.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Board: The Education Act (2004) and the Guidelines on approval to establish and operate a school and/or obtain assistance from the government (2020) dictate every non-state school to have a school management committee. Pre-primary schools and primary schools must include a board of governors in their management structure. Basic education and secondary schools must have a board of governors and a principal of the school in charge of management.
Reporting requirements: The Annual School Census (ASC) divides the data by school's ownership, including government schools, private schools, missionary schools, community school and other.
Inspection: The Education Act (2004) states that one of the Minister's roles is to monitor and inspect all primary schools. According to the 2020 Guidelines on approval to establish and operate a school and/or obtain assistance from the government, the Ministry or local authorities may authorise a person to inspect the premises of public schools to ensure that operations are conducted properly.
Assessment: Every student wishing to enrol at university must pass the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Sanctions: According to the Guidelines on Approval to Establish and Operate a School, schools are reassessed by the MBSSE to confirm that they still meet the standards under which they were approved. Schools that fail to meet the standards may lose state financial support and/or their licence to operate temporarily or permanently. Any school that operates without being licensed or registered by the Ministry of Education is subject to a fine.
3.3 Supplementary private tutoring
No legal framework was found regarding supplementary private tutoring; however, the National Curriculum Framework & Guidelines for Basic Education mentions that some teachers rely on "private lessons" or "unofficial charges" to make ends meet financially.
No information was found.
Financial operation and quality
No information was found.
No information was found.
