Sierra Leone Free Education Project

The objectives of the Free Education Project for Sierra Leone are to improve the management of the education system, teaching practices, and learning conditions. The Project has five components. 1. Policy, Governance, Accountability, and System Administration component will strengthen the education system in areas of policy, governance, accountability, and administration. This component has three subcomponents. 1.1. Evidence-based Education Planning and Rationalization subcomponent entails: (a) Annual and medium-term Education Sector Plan (ESP) development and budgeting; (b) School catchment area and rationalization plan and formula-based school funding; (c) Reform of government school approval and financing criterion and process; (d) Education data and management system; (e) Schools Standards and Quality Assurance Framework; (f) Institutional and human capacity development. 1.2. Curriculum and Assessments subcomponent entails: (a) Curriculum reform; (b) Assessments of student learning outcomes. Subcomponent 1.3. will promote Gender Equality and Inclusive Education. 2. Teacher Management and Professional Development component seeks to address the critical teacher quality and workforce management issues facing the country. Both system- and school-level interventions will be supported through two subcomponents. 2.1. Teacher Workforce Planning and Teacher Management subcomponent will strengthen teacher workforce planning and implement teacher related policies. It will also assist the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) in developing a comprehensive and integrated teacher management information system (TMIS). 2.2. Teacher Professional Development subcomponent aims to improve the quality of classroom instruction across primary schools and Junior Secondary Schools (JSSs). Activities will include providing a solar-powered tablet or appropriate digital device to every primary and secondary head teacher and to TSC district offices. A second theme will be strengthening support...