Education
Education gives children the knowledge, skills and confidence to shape their futures. UNICEF works to ensure every child in Sierra Leone accesses inclusive, quality education.
The challenges
More children in Sierra Leone are going to school, but too many are still not learning the foundational skills they need. Some children start school late, repeat grades, leave school early, or sit in overcrowded classrooms without the support they need to read, count, and progress with confidence.
Learning gaps begin early and can follow children throughout their education. Children from the poorest households, children with disabilities and girls facing protection or health-related barriers are less likely to benefit fully from school, limiting their opportunities for the future.
• Only 1 in 4 young children are enrolled in pre-primary education, meaning many start school without the early learning support they need.
• Many children are in classes that do not match their age or grade level, with gross enrolment at 150 per cent in primary and 140 per cent in junior secondary.
• Too many children are not learning the basics: only 12 per cent of Grade 4 pupils achieve minimum proficiency in reading, while around 1 in 4 teachers are untrained and only 65 per cent are qualified for the level they teach.
UNICEF contribution to the solution
UNICEF works with the Government to strengthen education systems so that every child can attend school, learn and thrive. This includes expanding early childhood learning, improving foundational literacy and numeracy, supporting teachers, strengthening education data and planning systems, and promoting safe, inclusive and gender-responsive schools.
UNICEF supports national efforts to improve teaching and learning materials, train and coach teachers, strengthen learning assessments and use education data to guide decisions. UNICEF also supports inclusive education, adolescent skills development, menstrual health and hygiene in schools, and climate-resilient education planning.
Through this work, UNICEF is helping Sierra Leone build an education system that is more equitable, inclusive, resilient and focused on learning, so that children and adolescents gain the skills they need for life and work.