Teaching service commission Launches Mandatory National Teacher Registration

The Sierra Leone Teaching Service Commission (SLTSC) has officially launched a Mandatory National Teacher Registration Exercise, set to run from March 14, 2024, to March 31, 2025.

In a statement made at the SLTSC office on Priscilla Street in Freetown, the Commission explained that the registration process is part of a broader effort to enhance teacher management and accountability, in line with the 2011 Teaching Service Commission Act. The initiative also supports the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of promoting equitable and quality education for all.

To make the process smooth and efficient, the SLTSC has appointed local coordinators who will visit schools across the country to collect data from teachers. All teachers engaged in classroom teaching whether in public or private pre-primary, junior secondary, senior secondary, or technical/vocational schools are required to register. This includes teachers on both the government payroll and those working in private institutions.

According to the SLTSC, the registration is mandatory for all teachers, regardless of their employment status. Teachers employed by the government must provide a range of documents, including their qualification certificates, national ID card, NASSIT card, birth certificates of their children, bank details, and appointment letters. Teachers not on the government payroll need to submit their qualification certificates, national ID card, and birth certificates of their children.

The Commission emphasized that failure to register would result in teachers being barred from entering classrooms. However, teachers who have already completed the registration in previous exercises are exempt from this requirement.

The registration exercise is seen as a key step in enhancing the quality, efficiency, and credibility of Sierra Leone’s teaching workforce. The SLTSC believes this will not only improve teacher development but also benefit students and the overall education system.

Teachers across the country are urged to ensure they meet the registration requirements, as the exercise is an important move toward building a stronger and more effective education sector in Sierra Leone.