LocationsFirst of three regional handovers begins in Freetown as a nationwide initiative delivers 14,770 sets of classroom furniture to schools and higher education institutions across 13 districts.
China, Sierra Leone and UNDP Hand Over Classroom Furniture to Boost Access to Quality Education
June 11, 2026
©UNDP Sierra Leone
FREETOWN, 11 June 2026 — The Government of Sierra Leone, the Government of China and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today began the official handover of classroom furniture to beneficiary institutions, marking a major milestone in a nationwide effort to improve learning environments and expand access to quality education. The first of three regional ceremonies was held at Freetown Polytechnic, with further handovers to follow in Kenema and Bo.
Funded by the Government of China through the Global Development Fund (GDF) and jointly implemented by UNDP and the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education and the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, the USD 2 million project, Improved Public Educational Service Facilities for Youth in Sierra Leone, provides 14,770 sets of classroom furniture to basic schools, secondary schools, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and universities across 13 districts. Beneficiary districts include Western Area Urban and Provincial Areas, Bo, Kenema, Kailahun, Kono and Tonkolili.
The intervention responds directly to long-standing furniture shortages in learning institutions, addressing overcrowding, improving student comfort and participation, and strengthening the conditions for teaching and learning nationwide. Careful project management also enabled the partners to procure thousands of furniture sets while generating savings that extended the benefits to additional schools and institutions.
©UNDP Sierra Leone
“This handover is about more than desks and chairs, it is an investment in quality education, in the comfort and inclusion of every learner, and in Sierra Leone’s human capital,” said Fredrick Ampiah, UNDP Resident Representative in Sierra Leone. “Education is one of the most powerful tools we have for national development and for lifting people out of poverty. Our commitment is that no student is left behind, including students with disabilities, who deserve accessible, inclusive places to learn.”
Formally transferring the furniture to the beneficiary institutions, Mr Ampiah urged schools to take full ownership of the assets and maintain them so that they serve students to come, describing the initiative as a strong example of South-South cooperation in action.
©UNDP Sierra Leone
“This is not just about furniture, it is about quality, comfort and the conditions in which our students can thrive,” said Hon. Conrad Sackey, Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education. “Every transformation begins in a classroom. These desks and chairs are symbols of our belief in the potential of our young people and in the Sierra Leone they will help build. Never underestimate the power of education.”
©UNDP Sierra Leone
“In public service, we are judged not by what we promise but by what we deliver, and today, we deliver,” said Dr Ramatulai Wurie, Minister of Technical and Higher Education. “This is the restoration of dignity in our classrooms. But access without quality is not enough; infrastructure deficits fragment learning and undermine concentration and performance.” She said the intervention aligns with the Government’s reform agenda to build a demand-driven technical and higher education system anchored in TVET quality assurance, digital learning and real-world competence, adding: “This is not the end of the journey. We will continue to mobilise partnerships, drive investment and pursue reforms for quality, inclusive education.”
©UNDP Sierra Leone
“Education is the foundation of national development,” said H.E. Zhao Yong , Ambassador of China to Sierra Leone, reaffirming China’s partnership in the education sector. The Ambassador pointed to a longstanding cooperation that includes scholarships for hundreds of Sierra Leonean students, and noted that the initiative contributes to quality education under the Government’s Big Five Game Changers agenda. “China is honoured to support Sierra Leone’s learners and to deepen the friendship between our two peoples.”
© UNDP Sierra Leone
About UNDP in Sierra Leone
UNDP partners with the Government and people of Sierra Leone to reduce poverty and inequality, strengthen governance and build resilience. Working across the country’s development priorities, UNDP supports inclusive growth and access to essential services, including quality education, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change.
Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at undp.org/sierra-leone or follow us on X @UNDPSierraLeone, Facebook @UNDPinSierraLeone, Linkedin @UNDPSierraLeone and Instagram @undp_sierraleone.
Media contact
Tanya Honnah
Communication & Partnership Analyst, UNDP
tanya.honnah@undp.org