ChildFund Sierra Leone, in collaboration with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has officially handed over construction sites to contractors for the development of two additional three-classroom blocks with Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities at Government Rokel Secondary School, Tower Hill, and FAWE Girls Secondary School, Waterloo.

This marks the final phase of the Increasing Access to Secondary Education for Out-of-School Girls in the Western Area project, which aims to provide quality learning spaces for over 3,000 girls across six schools. The initiative aligns with the government’s radical inclusion policy, ensuring that more girls, especially those who had previously dropped out, can return to school and complete their education.

Speaking at the ceremony, Justice (Rtd) Musu Kamara, Board Chair at Rokel School, highlighted that the new classrooms will help ease overcrowding as the school transitions back to a one-shift system.

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Similarly, Christiana Kabia, Principal of FAWE Girls Secondary School, expressed her excitement about the project, saying:
“The actuality of this construction seems like I am daydreaming. This expansion will greatly help accommodate the growing number of girls enrolling in the school.”

According to Jeremy Sawyers, Project Manager at ChildFund, the initiative, launched three years ago, has constructed and furnished four three-classroom blocks with WASH facilities at Sengbe Pieh Memorial, Sierra Leone Muslim Congress, Services, and Fourah Bay College Secondary Schools.

“Every year, we have been constructing classrooms in various school communities. In 2023, we built and furnished two three-classroom blocks at Sierra Leone Muslim Congress, along with VIP toilets for boys and girls. We are also training teachers in line with government policies to meet teaching standards,” Sawyers explained.

He further emphasized ChildFund’s commitment to girls’ education, revealing that the project re-enrolls 120 girls annually.
“In 2023 and 2024, we successfully re-enrolled 120 girls, and we plan to do the same this year. Many of these girls have sat for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE),” he added

Local stakeholders have expressed their appreciation for the initiative. Chief Augusta Foday Kallon of the Waterloo community, who has been actively involved in the project, commended ChildFund for addressing the urgent need for school infrastructure.

“The infrastructural development we have long hoped for is finally happening. I sincerely appreciate ChildFund Sierra Leone for this remarkable project. Today’s groundbreaking ceremony is a significant milestone for our community,” she stated.

Johnson Sesay, one of the project contractors, outlined the construction plan, stating that the new facilities will include:

Three classrooms

One storage room

One office space

Two toilet facilities

The construction process is expected to be completed within four months. However, Sesay noted that drilling for the boreholes may pose a challenge, as locating a suitable water source can be difficult.

The project is being carried out by the following contractors:

Comtech Solutions & Dorlbee – FAWE Secondary School, Waterloo

Mas Construction & Fackban Construction – Government Rokel Secondary School, Tower Hill

As the project progresses, Sawyers urged school management and community members to take ownership of the facilities and ensure their maintenance.
“Sustaining these structures is crucial for long-term educational development. We call on all stakeholders to work together in maintaining the schools,” he stated.

Once completed for the 2025–2026 academic year, these facilities will serve as a critical step towards improving access to education for out-of-school girls in Sierra Leone. The initiative underscores the importance of inclusive learning environments and the collective effort required to empower girls through education.