Secondary education
Sierra Leone is a country with a lot of young people. More than half of the population is under the age of 24, and over 40 % of all Sierra Leonians are under 14. This is very different from the situation in the UK, where only 28 % of the people are under 24, and 17% are under 14.
All of these children need education, and as we know, their parents value it highly. Last time we looked at the primary education in the country. Today we focus on the next stage of schooling.
To be able to go to secondary school, pupils must pass an exam in maths, and have a reasonable grasp of English, both spoken and written. They have to pay admission fees, buy books, uniform and shoes, and pay lesson fees. This can cost at least £50 a term, which is a real struggle for most families, and a lot of children have no chance of getting secondary education. Many have to drop out because of lack of money, not because of lack of brains.
The subjects are academic for the first years of secondary school. In some rural areas, there can be cultural attitudes that support the education of boys more than girls. This is reflected in the fact that at the age of 15, over 50% of boys are literate, but only 39.8 % of girls.
The next three years, from 15 to 18, will have the main focus either on academic subjects, or on a more vocational education, with a greater emphasis on more practical skills. Our own Ann Hay training school in Taiama is a great example of this type!
At 16 and 18 there are formal exams like those in Britain for the more academic schools – however, the pupils have to pay before they can even sit these exams. With these financial and other obstacles, it is hardly surprising that this is another frequent time for students to drop out.
If they do well , there are further educational facilities in Bo, Myamba, Njala and Freetown. But it is not easy and you have to be very bright, determined, have funds and be lucky to progress beyond secondary. They take formal exams at sixteen and eighteen.
In theory there is a good educational structure, but in practice due sometimes to the lack of even basic materials and books, the provision is very varied. At least in the Kori area we are helping to address some of these issues, and hopefully making it easier for bright children to get the education they deserve.
