New England, Freetown, Sierra Leone , 14 October 2025: The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) and the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) have held a high-level strategic meeting to discuss progress on the 2025/2026 Education Sector Analysis (ESA). The meeting took place at the MBSSE Conference Room, New England Ville, Freetown.
The session brought together key stakeholders, including the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Mr. Conrad Sackey; the Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Mr. Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara; senior officials from both ministries; and representatives from development partners.
Discussions focused on addressing the delays that have affected the ESA process since its initial launch in August. Participants emphasized the need for renewed collaboration and urgency to fast-track implementation and ensure the timely completion of the analysis.
Following extensive deliberations, the meeting agreed to engage both national and international consultants to lead the sector analysis.
Oversight responsibilities will be coordinated through a Technical Working Group and a Steering Committee comprising representatives from both ministries and development partners.
It was further resolved that the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the ESA and the consultant roles will be finalized and circulated to partners for input. The validation and approval process will be fast-tracked to enable prompt recruitment of consultants.
Stakeholders also underscored the importance of developing a practical and well-coordinated implementation timeline, accounting for key steps such as advertisement, shortlisting, and interviews.
The meeting concluded with a strong call for commitment, coordination, and accountability among all parties to ensure the ESA is completed on time and informs the development of Sierra Leone’s next Education Sector Plan (ESP).
Credit: Richard Williams
