By: Zacharia Jalloh, Strategic Communications Unit, Ministry of Information and Civic Education
Tuesday, February 4, 2025: The Ministry of Information and Civic Education held its weekly press conference on Tuesday, 4th February 2025, addressing key national issues including environmental conservation, education reforms, digital learning, and security updates. The briefing featured statements from Minister of Information and Civic Education Chernor Bah, Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Conrad Sackey, Minister of Technical and Higher Education Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, and Inspector General of Police William Fayia Sellu. Here are the key highlights:
Government’s Commitment to Environmental Protection
Minister Chernor Bah reaffirmed the government’s dedication to preserving the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary and its surrounding environment. He expressed grave concern over increasing encroachment in the sanctuary’s vicinity, warning that any unauthorized construction within the protected area is illegal and will result in severe consequences, including arrest, prosecution, imprisonment, and demolition of structures. He disclosed that President Julius Maada Bio has directed the immediate demolition of any structures encroaching on the sanctuary, underscoring the government’s firm stance on environmental conservation as reflected in the national civic education strategy.
Updates on Education Reforms
Minister Conrad Sackey provided an update on the Continuous Assessment Scores (CAS) system, which accounts for 30% of students’ final examination grades. He reported that 163,797 pupils from 892 schools are currently registered in the system, a significant increase from last year’s 147,000 pupils from 816 schools. He noted that 880 of the 892 schools have successfully uploaded their CAS-2 records, but 12 schools, including four government schools, four private schools, and four schools with incomplete records, failed to comply. Government schools failing to comply will have their salaries withheld for six months as a punitive measure.
Additionally, Minister Sackey urged parents, boards of governors, and Members of Parliament (MPs) to ensure schools complete their batch registration process before the February 7, 2025, deadline to prevent students from being disqualified from taking their exams.
The Minister also introduced the Teacher Licensing Process, aimed at enhancing the quality of teaching. Educators will be required to pass an examination and undergo professional skills training before acquiring a license. The Ministry’s long-term vision is to ensure that licensed teachers not only improve the quality of education in Sierra Leone but also qualify to teach in other African countries. In 2024, 4,000 teachers were recruited to ensure all of them obtain licenses.
Higher Education and Digital Learning Initiatives
Minister Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie highlighted major reforms in the higher education sector, focusing on efforts to strengthen regulatory authorities to sustain investment and quality in education. She announced that the Tertiary Education Commission Act and the National Council for Technical, Vocational, and Other Academic Awards (NCTVA) Act of 2001 had been reviewed, amended, and passed by Parliament to align with modern educational needs.
To advance digital learning, Minister Wurie informed the public of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Government of Sierra Leone (Ministry of Communication, Technology, and Innovation & Ministry of Technical and Higher Education) and ELCOME SL LTD, a high-speed internet provider. Under this agreement, Starlink Internet will be provided to all higher learning institutions in the country. Students will have affordable internet access, and a whitelisted website for educational purposes will be made available free of charge.
Security Updates from the Sierra Leone Police
Inspector General of Police William Fayia Sellu addressed several security concerns:
- Jos Leijdekkers Case: The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) has received no official communication from any foreign entity, including Interpol, regarding the alleged drug kingpin Jos Leijdekkers. Open-source investigations have confirmed that the individual circulating in pictures on social media is actually Umar Sheriff. The police urge the public to assist in locating him.
- Guinea Drug Incident: A delegation led by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Timothy Kabba, alongside SLP officials, is currently in Guinea to investigate the recent cocaine seizure involving a vehicle belonging to the Sierra Leone Embassy. The objective of the visit is to gather facts, and the government will provide further updates upon the delegation’s return to Freetown.
- Unauthorized Aircraft & Submarine Vessel: The unidentified aircraft that landed at Lungi Airport and the makeshift submarine boat spotted at Tombo were both thoroughly searched, with forensic tests yielding negative results for any illicit substances or activities.
- Appeal for International Support: IGP Sellu called on development partners to support Sierra Leone in capacity building to combat transnational crimes, including drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and other security threats.
This press conference underscores the government’s ongoing efforts to address critical issues and enhance the well-being of its citizens.