By Sallieu S. Kanu
The national office of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) hosted a seminar on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, to discuss ways to bridge gaps within services for children with special educational needs in Sierra Leone. The seminar, held in Freetown, was attended by pupils with disabilities, representatives from the Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools, teachers, WAEC staff, and policymakers.
Dr. Abubakarr Lamin, Head of the Department of Education at Fourah Bay College, was the chief discussant. He explained that special education involves specifically designed instructions to meet the learning needs of children with disabilities, which require special materials, teaching techniques, equipment, and facilities. Dr. Lamin highlighted that children with disabilities are often placed in separate learning environments, which can isolate them from their non-disabled peers.
International and National Instruments
Dr. Lamin mentioned several international and national instruments supporting the education of children with special needs, including:
- Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4)
- Salamanca Statement (1994)
- United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989)
- African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of Children (1990)
- Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Education Act (2004)
- Persons with Disability Act (2011)
- Education Sector Plan
- National Policy on Radical Inclusion
Barriers to Special Education
Despite these instruments, Dr. Lamin identified several barriers to providing education services for children with special needs in Sierra Leone, including:
- Lack of information and data on children with special needs
- Inadequate policy attention
- Underreporting due to socio-cultural issues
- Insufficient special needs schools
- Mainstream schools that are not disabled-friendly
- Untrained teachers in mainstream schools
- Inadequate facilities and materials
- Poverty in families with children with disabilities
- Lack of parental and community support
Recommendations
To address these challenges, Dr. Lamin recommended:
- Domestication of international treaties and protocols
- Modification of support services
- Providing quiet spaces for children having difficulty in group activities
- Modifying the physical environment to encourage participation and learning
- Using visual aids to indicate activities
- Implementing peer support strategies, pairing children with special needs with those without disabilities
WAEC Policies and Initiatives
Dr. Lamin noted WAEC’s policies for candidates with special needs, such as extra time, bold font answer booklets, and modified question papers. He suggested trial testing for children with special needs to ensure questions are appropriately modified and recommended training WAEC officials, building the capacity of caregivers, offering special needs education courses, and establishing a core national vision.
Mr. Mustapha G. Koroma, Acting Head of WAEC’s National Office, emphasized that the seminar aligns with WAEC’s mission to promote academic and moral excellence among school children. He highlighted the importance of such seminars in enhancing the performance of candidates, especially those with special needs.
Matilda Jusu, Head of the Test Development Division at WAEC, mentioned the provision of braille machines and plans to introduce audio questions for children with special needs.
Saa Lamin Korteque, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, commended WAEC for organizing the seminar. He acknowledged the government’s efforts in supporting inclusive education but noted that challenges remain.
Mrs. Mariatu Mansaray, Secretary General of the Conference of Principals of Schools, applauded WAEC for initiating such a discussion. She said that schools are constrained with resources – materials and qualified teachers – in offering teaching to children with special needs education.
Mr. M.S. Jalloh, Deputy Director of Special Needs Education at the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, said that the government has made tremendous strides in promoting the education of special needs children by implementing policies. He said that though progress has been made, more needs to be done to support children with special educational needs. He noted that the seminar is a laudable venture of WAEC to promote and sustain the quality performance of candidates in the council’s examinations.
Conclusion
Alhaji Sulaiman Janneh, Acting Head of the Freetown Section of WAEC’s Research Division, concluded that the seminar is part of WAEC’s strategic plan to maintain educational standards and conduct credible examinations. The event underscored the need for collaboration, policy development, and resource allocation to ensure that children with special needs receive quality education.