By Abubakarr Trawally
The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSS), in collaboration with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), has launched the Building Foundational Learning through Technology project, aimed at enhancing literacy and numeracy skills in primary schools across Pujehun District.
The initiative, which aligns with the government’s strategy of leveraging data and technology for improved education service delivery, was unveiled at the Sierra Palms Resort on Monday.
In his keynote address, Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Hon. Conrad Sackey, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to strengthening foundational learning, a key priority in the Education Sector Plan. He noted persistent challenges such as a shortage of qualified teachers, limited resources, and systemic issues that have negatively impacted learning outcomes.
“The evidence from the VSO report shows that educational technology is not just a tool but a catalyst for equity, inclusion, and accelerated learning,” Sackey stated.
He described the Building Foundational Learning through Technology project as a timely and transformative intervention. The initiative introduces various EdTech solutions, including individualized tablet learning, tablet-sharing models, and classroom projectors, to improve literacy and numeracy instruction in primary schools.
The minister emphasized key implementation strategies, including enhanced teacher training, native language support for better comprehension, and accessibility for learners with disabilities, and cost-effective approaches such as projectors to expand reach.
Sackey also underscored the importance of integrating local languages into the curriculum, particularly in the early years of education, and called for further research to improve disability inclusion in the education sector.
He extended gratitude to VSO, the Hempel Foundation, EdTech Hub, and other partners, urging collective efforts to ensure every child, regardless of background or ability, has access to quality education.
Speaking at the event, Abdul Kamara, Education Technical Advisor at VSO Sierra Leone, highlighted VSO’s global reach, stating that the organization operates in 35 countries and has impacted over 85 million lives since its establishment in 1958.
Kamara explained that Pujehun District was selected due to its long-standing educational challenges, including a shortage of qualified teachers and low literacy and numeracy levels.
The project was implemented across 24 schools, divided into three groups, each receiving a different type of EdTech intervention. Control schools that did not receive technology were also included to assess the project’s impact.
Kamara revealed that findings from the project showed significant improvements in student performance. Literacy scores among students in technology-assisted schools were 39-42% higher than those in control schools, while numeracy scores improved by 29-33%.
Solomon B. George, a teacher involved in the project, highlighted the effectiveness of the digital learning approach, which allows students to progress at their own pace. He noted that technology has been particularly helpful in managing large classes and engaging students more effectively.
“Since my colleague passed away last year, I have been teaching all classes from Class 1 to Class 6 alone. The only relief I get is when I engage the lower classes with the technology,” George shared.
He described the projector-based learning model as a game-changer, improving classroom management, sparking students’ interest, and making complex subjects like mathematics and literacy more accessible.
With the success of this initiative, stakeholders hope for expanded implementation across more districts to further bridge the learning gap in Sierra Leone.
