As part of its move move to enhance the working conditions of teachers in the country, Deputy Minister Emily Gogra from the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education recently conducted a monitoring visit to the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) headquarters in Freetown.

The purpose of her visit was to oversee the ongoing pilot of the electronic examination designed for the licensing of teachers. This initiative is part of the ministry’s broader strategy to elevate the professional standards and conditions of service for educators across the nation.

During the visit, Frances Kafula, the Deputy Director of Teachers Registration and Licensing at the Teaching Service Commission Sierra Leone, provided a comprehensive overview of the progress made in implementing the electronic examination process. Kafula expressed optimism about the initiative and highlighted its alignment with global standards for advancing the teaching sector into a realm of professionalism.

Kafula emphasized the necessity of licensing all teachers, citing it as a global phenomenon aimed at raising the professional standards within the education sector. The decision to implement examinations stems from the ministry’s commitment to ensuring that teachers possess the requisite attributes, attitudes, skills, and methodologies crucial for delivering quality education in the classroom.

“We have opted for teachers to undergo examinations because it is a common practice globally. In our case, we envision our teachers not only to be well-versed in pedagogy but also to exhibit professionalism in terms of attributes, attitudes, skills, and methodologies in the classroom. This examination process is designed to test and validate their competence,” revealed Kafula.

The move towards licensing is seen as a strategic step to fortify the teaching profession and ensure that educators are equipped with the necessary tools to meet the evolving demands of education in Sierra Leone.