Sierra Leone Boosts Foundational Learning With Teacher Training Initiative

The Sierra Leone Teaching Service Commission (TSC), in collaboration with the World Bank, launched a five-day intensive training program to equip primary one teachers with the skills needed to improve foundational learning.

The program, led by the TSC’s Teacher Performance Management Division, targets not only teachers but also head teachers and school quality assurance officers. Held at St. Steven Technical Secondary School, the training aims to enhance the use of teaching and learning materials for stronger educational outcomes.

Madam Theresa Lango Byrne, Deputy Director of Teacher Development and Performance at the TSC, addressed participants, highlighting the crucial role primary one teachers play in shaping a child’s educational foundation. The training equips teachers with essential skills, including phonics instruction, English language teaching methodologies, pronunciation, and reading and writing strategies.

This pilot phase targets teachers from four districts: Pujehun, Kono, Koinadugu, and Western Urban. The TSC encourages participants to leverage this opportunity and translate their learnings into improved educational experiences for their students.

Alieu George Kamara, a renowned educator from the Freetown Teachers College, leads the training sessions. The program covers a wide range of topics such as phonics-based reading instruction, explicit pedagogy, using thematic posters, developing reading fluency and comprehension, and blending letters for reading syllables.

Participants like Matthew Brima Sakpa expressed their appreciation for the program, acknowledging the importance of training primary one teachers. He emphasized how the acquired knowledge will benefit his students.

The TSC’s vision is to ensure this training reaches all primary teachers, marking a transformative approach to early education in Sierra Leone. This initiative is expected to have a significant impact on the quality of education for young learners, setting a new standard for teaching practices and boosting foundational learning outcomes.

The TSC and its partners remain dedicated to supporting educators’ professional development and improving Sierra Leone’s educational landscape.