UNICEF Leads National Seminar to Advance Inclusive Education in Sierra Leone

Freetown, Sierra Leone – UNICEF today convened a National Seminar on Inclusive Education, bringing together government actors, civil society, development partners, and education stakeholders to accelerate progress toward a more inclusive, equitable education system in Sierra Leone.

The seminar led and organized by UNICEF in close collaboration with the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), serves as a national platform to assess existing gaps, spotlight promising practices, and define strategic actions that ensure all children—especially the most marginalized—have access to quality learning.

“Inclusive education is not a separate or parallel system. It is the foundation of an equitable, resilient education system that leaves no child behind,” said Liv Elin Indreiten, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Sierra Leone. “This seminar is about turning our shared commitments into concrete action—so every child, regardless of disability, gender, or background, can learn and thrive.”

While Sierra Leone has made progress in ensuring equitable access to education through the Free Quality School Education programme and relevant policies such as the Radical Inclusion Policy and the Comprehensive School Safety Policy, many children—especially girls and children with disabilities—still face major barriers to learning:

• Only 25% of children aged 3 to 4 are enrolled in pre-primary education in Sierra Leone, limiting school readiness—especially for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• 22% of primary school-aged children are out of school in 2020, with girls in rural areas disproportionately affected.
• Only 3 in 10 children in Grade 4 can read and understand grade-level text, with nearly 65% struggling with basic comprehension.
• 38% of the teaching workforce lacks formal teaching qualifications and has never received training in inclusive or gender-responsive teaching methods.
• Many schools remain physically inaccessible, and a lack of gender-friendly sanitation facilities and menstrual hygiene support keeps many adolescent girls out of class.

The seminar provided space for stakeholders to:

• Examine current challenges and systemic barriers to inclusive education;
• Share successful models and innovations from government and partners;
• And identify priority actions to build a more inclusive education system that engages families, communities, and policy influencers.

As part of the event, UNICEF launched its new Inclusive Education Strategy for Sierra Leone, along with a policy brief developed in partnership with MBSSE and national stakeholders. These tools offer evidence-based guidance to strengthen inclusive planning, classroom practice, and community engagement.

“Every girl and boy has the right to learn in a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment,” Indreiten added. “UNICEF is proud to work alongside the Government and all partners to make this a reality in Sierra Leone.”

This seminar reflects UNICEF’s continued commitment to supporting the Government of Sierra Leone in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4—ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Sources:

1. UNICEF Sierra Leone (2023). Early Childhood Development and Pre-primary Education Brief
2. UNICEF, IIEP-UNESCO Dakar (2020). Education Sector Analysis of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Assessing the enabling environment for gender equality, Republic of Sierra Leone.
3. World Bank & MBSSE (2021). Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) Report
4. UNICEF & MBSSE (2022). Teaching and Learning in Sierra Leone: Teacher Training Review
5. UNICEF Situation Analysis on Children in Sierra Leone - 2024
6. Sierra Leone Education Sector Analysis - 2020
7. Sierra Leone Annual School Census 2022