Boost for free quality education in Sierra Leone

UNDP and FQSE join forces on major school improvement project.

May 19, 2025

Classroom setting with students sitting at wooden desks and teachers discussing at the front. — A classroom from Kono District visited by the UNDP , Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education and the Ministry of Higher and Technical Education team.

UNDP SIERRA LEONE / Donald Melvin Mansaray

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Free Quality School Education (FQSE) Secretariat, housed within the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), have embarked on a joint nationwide verification exercise in preparation for the rollout of a major education support project.

Funded by China Aid and valued at nearly US$2 million, the Improved Public Educational Service Facilities for Youth In Sierra Leone project aims to improve educational facilities in selected chiefdoms and public schools i8n 10 districts. It forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen President Julius Maada Bio’s flagship Free Quality School Education initiative, a cornerstone of the government’s Human Capital Development agenda.

Leading the assessment exercise were Augustine Moses Koroma, National Programme Coordinator at the FQSE Secretariat, and Madam Ndeye Aminata Diop from UNDP Sierra Leone. The team visited multiple schools to verify existing needs and readiness for implementation. The project is being implemented by UNDP Sierra Leone on behalf of UNDP China, in close collaboration with key partners, including the Ministry of Higher and Technical Education.

Group of six individuals standing in front of a school building with mountains in the background. — The Assessement Team from UNDP and the Free Quality School Education Secrtetriate at a school in Freetown.

UNDP SIERRA LEONE / Donald Melvin Mansaray

According to Mr. Koroma, the project will provide 10,000 sets of classroom furniture, tables and chairs, to underserved schools across the country. “This is a practical step towards improving learning environments and ensuring quality in education,” he noted. “It demonstrates the governments and partners’ unwavering commitment to investing in our children’s future.”

Since its launch in August 2018, the FQSE initiative has made remarkable strides, boosting school enrolment, supplying teaching, and learning materials, and attracting both national and international recognition. The new project is expected to further accelerate these gains and enhance the learning experience for thousands of students nationwide.