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The Sierra Leone Teaching Service Commission has announced the formal introduction of mandatory licensing fees for all teachers across the country.
The move, which takes immediate effect, aligns with the Teaching Service Commission Act of 2011 and the Education Act of 2023, following consultations with key education stakeholders and the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE).
According to the Commission, the policy forms a central component of the National Teacher Policy (2020), aimed at professionalising the teaching workforce and ensuring high standards of instruction in both public and private schools.
The SLTSC has outlined a tiered fee structure covering examinations and the issuance of licenses. The Teacher Licensing Examination fee is set at Le300, while a new teacher license (first sitting) will cost Le250. Proficient Teacher Licenses are pegged at Le150, Highly Accomplished Teacher Licenses at Le100, and Distinguished Teacher Licenses at Le50.
Under the Education Act of 2023, licensing is now mandatory for all teachers in Sierra Leone. The Commission emphasised that passing the licensing examination with a minimum score of 50 percent is a prerequisite for recruitment into public service and for access to professional development opportunities.
Teachers who fail to meet the pass mark will be required to pay the examination fee again in order to retake the test. To support candidates, the Commission has launched an online practice platform, developed in collaboration with UNESCO, providing access to study materials, practice questions, and mock examinations.
The Commission noted that while the first three cohorts of examinations, conducted between 2024 and 2025, were funded under the “Free Education Project” at no cost to teachers, the introduction of fees is necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of the licensing programme.
To facilitate a smooth transition, the SLTSC has committed to providing at least one month’s notice ahead of each examination. This, it said, will allow teachers sufficient time to register, make payments, and prepare at designated centres across all 16 districts. Details on payment methods and examination venues will be communicated prior to each cycle.
The Commission described the policy as a significant step toward strengthening accountability and elevating teaching into a fully regulated, high-standard profession in Sierra Leone.
