The Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), Conrad Sackey on Wednesday shared insights into the government’s efforts to combat learning poverty, at the literacy instruction workshop held at the New Brookfields Hotel, organized by CODE WECARE and The Association of Language & Literacy Educators Reading Sierra Leone (TALLER-SL).

Minister Sackey expressed his delight in being part of the event and acknowledged the crucial work being done to improve literacy among students in Sierra Leone. He highlighted the findings of a 2021 national Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) and Early Grade Math Assessment (EGMA), which revealed that 65-70% of ten-year-olds could read words but struggled with comprehension—a phenomenon termed “learning poverty.”

Last year, the government organized the Foundational Learning Exchange (FLEX) summit, involving ministers and professionals from across Africa and supported by organizations like the World Bank, to discuss the issues that countries are facing to achieve foundational learning objectives.

The summit underscored Sierra Leone’s commitment to strengthening foundational learning, including securing funding and support from various partners including Global Partnership for Education and World Bank.

Minister Sackey emphasized the importance of collaboration, particularly with Liberia, given the shared experiences of civil war, Ebola, and COVID-19. He also discussed the challenge of having multiple organizations training teachers in different methodologies, which can create confusion. The solution, he noted, is to develop a Sierra Leonean framework for teaching foundational learning, which the ministry is currently designing and implementing.

Julie Donohue Kpolugbo, CODE Canada’s Education, Literacy, and Gender Specialist, shared her collaborative efforts in the project, emphasizing the need for cross-curricular integration of literacy. The workshop explored strategies for integrating literacy across various subjects and included practical sessions for trainers and pre-service teachers at Freetown Polytechnic.

Kpolugbo underscored the importance of reflective feedback and peer coaching, fostering a learning environment that supports professional growth at all levels. She concluded by affirming the belief that “iron sharpens iron,” highlighting the collaborative spirit between Liberians and Sierra Leoneans in their shared educational journey.