Tag Archives: Sierra Leone

According to collegesanduniversitiesinusa, Sierra Leone has a long and varied history when it comes to education. The country has historically placed a great emphasis on the importance of education and has taken various measures over the years to ensure that its citizens are provided with access to quality educational opportunities. The earliest formal educational system in Sierra Leone was established by the British Colonial Government in 1827, when they opened the first elementary school in Freetown. This school was followed by the creation of numerous other elementary schools throughout the country, as well as several secondary schools during the late 19th century and early 20th century. In 1951, Sierra Leone gained independence from Britain and began to focus more heavily on improving its educational system. This included opening more primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions throughout the country, as well as increasing access to education for children living in rural areas. In 1971, free primary education was introduced for all children between ages 6-13, which helped to increase enrollment rates significantly over the following years. The civil war that took place from 1991-2002 had a devastating effect on Sierra Leone’s educational system due to widespread destruction of schools and displacement of students and teachers alike. Despite this setback, there have been several initiatives taken since then that have helped rebuild and improve upon Sierra Leone’s educational infrastructure. This includes increased access to primary schooling through programs such as Free Quality Education (FQE) which provides free schooling for children aged 6-15 living in rural areas; increased access to secondary schooling through initiatives such as Girls Education Initiative (GEI) which aims to increase enrollment rates among female students; as well as increased access to tertiary institutions through programs such as Higher Education Support Program (HESP) which provides financial assistance for students pursuing higher education at universities or colleges within Sierra Leone or abroad. Overall, despite various setbacks due to conflict and poverty throughout its history, Sierra Leone has made significant progress when it comes to providing access to quality education for its citizens over recent decades. Through various initiatives taken by both government bodies and non-governmental organizations alike, there is now an increased focus on ensuring that all children are provided with equal educational opportunities regardless of their background or financial situation. Sierra Leone is a small West African state located on the Atlantic coast, bordered by Guinea and Liberia. It has a population of around 6 million people and its capital city is Freetown. The country gained independence from Britain in 1961 and is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. In 2009, Sierra Leone was in the midst of a period of political instability that had been exacerbated by the civil war that had raged from 1991 to 2002. This conflict had resulted in widespread destruction and displacement, leaving many Sierra Leoneans without access to basic services such as education or health care. In addition, it had led to a breakdown in government institutions and an increase in poverty and inequality throughout the country. In 2009, Sierra Leone was ruled by President Ernest Bai Koroma who was elected to office in 2007 after defeating incumbent Vice-President Solomon Berewa in a run-off election. He belonged to the All People’s Congress (APC) political party which held the majority of seats in both houses of Parliament. However, opposition parties such as the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), National Unity Movement (NUM) and Alliance Democratic Party (ADP) were represented in Parliament as well. Sierra Leone’s economy was heavily reliant on foreign aid from international organizations such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This aid was used primarily for development projects focusing on healthcare, education and infrastructure improvements throughout the country. In addition to this external aid, Sierra Leone also received remittances from its large diaspora population which helped support its economic growth over this period. In terms of foreign relations, Sierra Leone maintained strong ties with Britain due to their shared colonial history as well as other members of the Commonwealth such as Nigeria, South Africa and Canada. In addition to this they also enjoyed close relations with neighbouring countries such as Guinea and Liberia due to their shared cultural heritage and geographic proximity. Overall, while there were significant challenges facing Sierra Leone during this period due to poverty levels caused by civil war damage and mismanagement by past governments; there were also signs that progress was being made towards increased stability under President Koroma’s administration with increased access to basic services such as healthcare or education being provided for citizens throughout the country. Check naturegnosis for Sierra Leone in 2001.