Description

In Sierra Leone, there is no compulsory period of education for children. However, education is free between primary Classes 1 and 6.

English is the language of instruction.
The academic year lasts from September or October to July.

Qualification List

School

Primary (Elementary) School

National Primary School Exam (NPSE)
Primary education is six years in length for children between the ages of six and twelve. Previously viewed as a terminal period of education, the system has recently been reformed so that children should now progress to further education.
The first two years are often taught in the local language; hereafter, English becomes the medium of instruction. The curriculum consists of:
··indigenous language
··language arts
··mathematics
··physical/health education
··practical/creative arts
··religious education
··science
··social studies

Pre-vocational subjects, such as agriculture and home economics, are also taught.

On completion of the sixth year, children sit for the National Primary School Examination (NPSE), which is administered by the West African Examination Council.

This new examination is not intended to be part of a selective entrance examination as before, but instead focuses on the abilities and capabilities of children. For this purpose, assessment includes a general knowledge test, assignments, class tests, end of term examinations, practical skills and projects. Therefore, there is no pass or fail mark.

Secondary School
Secondary education has now been divided into two three-year periods: junior secondary and senior secondary.

Junior Secondary School (JSS): Basic Education Certificate Exams (BECE)
Junior secondary education covers students between the ages of twelve and fifteen. The following subjects form the curriculum:
··agriculture
··French
··integrated science
··indigenous language (one from Krio, Limba, Mende or Temne)
··language arts
··mathematics
··physical and health education
··religious and moral education
··social studies

Students may also take pre-vocational subjects as electives.
These include:
··business studies
··electronics
··home economics
··introductory technology
··local crafts

A system of continuous assessment is used to  the progress of students. On completion of the third year (JSS3), pupils sit for the Basic Education Certificate

Examination (BECE).
The results of the BECE determine whether students enter either:
··senior secondary schools
··community education centres
··trade centres
··vocational institutes

Senior Secondary School (SSS): West African School Certificate Exam (WASCE)
Admission Requirements

In order to gain entrance to senior secondary schools, students require both:
··a Grade 6 pass or better in six or more core subjects
··a Grade 6 pass or better in two electives, one of which is required to be a pre-vocational subject.

Curriculum

The curriculum consists of the following core subjects:
··English language
··one Sierra Leonean language (Krio, Limba, Mende or Temne)
··mathematics
··science (from biology, chemistry, physics and general integrated science)
··Sierra Leonean studies
··a vocational subject/a technical subject/agriculture

Additionally, students choose three electives, which are not offered as core subjects.

After three years of senior secondary education, students sit for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination. This examination is administered by the West African Examinations Council, who will also continue the Higher School Leaving Certificate Examination in some English-speaking regions.

Options After Secondary School Education

After secondary education, students may proceed to technical education (Technical and Vocational Education), universities (Higher Education) or teacher training courses (Teacher Education).

Technical Vocational Education

Technical education in Sierra Leone is available at a variety of levels.

1.Trade Centres
Trade Centres offer two- or three-year courses in the senior secondary cycle. Courses are offered in various fields and generally lead to the Crafts Certificate.

2.Technical Institutes
There are two known and recognized technical institutes offering post-secondary technical education, at Kenema and Freetown. The following courses are generally offered:
··City & Guilds certificates
··BTEC National Diploma and the BTEC Higher National Diploma (in building and engineering)
··London Chamber of Commerce and Industry examinations in commercial subjects

Royal Society of Arts secretarial examinations
However, private individuals and organizations have opened/started some technical and vocational institutions with various national certifications approved of by the Ministry of Education.

Teacher Education

1.Primary
These are five teacher training colleges, at Bo, Bunumbu, Freetown, Makehi and Port Loko training primary school teachers. These colleges offer a three-year course that leads to the award of the Teacher's Certificate (TC).

2.Secondary

a.Junior Secondary

Three teaching colleges (Milton Margai Teachers College, Fourah Bay College and Njala University College) offer three-year courses leading to the Higher Teachers Certificate. Entry is based upon the award of at least four BECE passes. Students with the Higher Teachers Certificate generally teach at the junior secondary level.

The Higher Teachers' Certificate Is considered comparable in standard to the West African Higher School Certificate (WAHSC) and enables the holder to enroll onto undergraduate degree courses.

b.Senior Secondary

These colleges also offer four-year courses leading to the Bachelor of Arts/Science in Education. Additionally, Fourah Bay College offers a one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Education for holders of the Bachelor degree.

Higher Education

The Ministry of Education is responsible for higher education in Sierra Leone.

University of Sierra Leone

The University of Sierra Leone consists of three colleges:
··College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences - founded in 1988 as a constituent college of the University.
··Fourah Bay College - between 1876 and 1960 its degrees were awarded by the University of Durham. It became a constituent college in 1966.
··Njala University College - became a constituent college of the University in 1966.

Admission Requirements

Entry to Bachelor degree courses is generally based upon the Senior School Certificate Examination.

Previously, students were admitted on the basis of the GCE Ordinary Level examinations. Students with good GCE Advanced Level results may have been given direct entry into year two.

Undergraduate Qualifications

Certificates and Diplomas

Courses leading to Certificates and Diplomas are offered by the University. The Certificate in Agriculture or Home Economics is two years in length, whilst a Diploma in Engineering, Fishery or Marine Biology is awarded after three years of undergraduate study. These courses are professional in nature.

Bachelor Degrees

Bachelor (General) degrees are three years in length, though students who are not sufficiently qualified are generally required to take an extra year. Honours degrees generally take four years to complete.

Postgraduate Qualifications

Master's Degrees

Master's degrees are awarded after one year following the Honours degree or two years following the General degree. A short thesis is required as part of the course.

Doctorates

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is conferred a minimum of three years after the Bachelor degree. The course is research-based and requires submission of a thesis.

Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM)

Established in 1980, the IPAM (part of the University of Sierra Leone) meets middle and senior management training needs in the public and private sectors of the economy. It offers mainly in-service and sandwich courses, with no minimum entry requirements. Courses can be taken in:
··accountancy
··banking
··computer science
··general management
··human resource management
··public administration

In addition to this, it offers courses leading to the qualification of Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) and the Associate of the ACCA (UK).

Grading System

1.School

The following school qualifications have a grading system on a scale of 1-9 where one is the maximum and nine is a fail.
··West African School Certificate
··GCE O level
··Cambridge Overseas School Certificate
··Senior School Certificate Examination

The following school qualifications are graded using a scale of A, B, C, D, E, O (subsidiary pass) F (fail):
··West African Higher School Certificate
··Cambridge Overseas Higher School Certificate
··GCE A level

Njala University College Fourah Bay College

A 5            Excellent    A     70-100%
B 4            Good         B+   60-69%
C 3            Fair           B     50-59%
D2             Bare Pass  C+   45-49%
F1              Fail          C     40-44%
D                                     35-39% Fail
E               Below                   35% Fail