The Teaching Service Commission (TSC) under the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) in Sierra Leone recently announced its plans to recruit an additional 2,800 teachers across the country.
The move comes after the TSC revealed that 680 teachers are set to retire this year.
In an interview with Politico last month, the Executive Secretary of the TSC, Sorie Ibrahim Turay, explained that the commission aims to avoid any disruption to the school calendar. To facilitate a smooth transition, the district education secretaries have compiled data at the district level to identify the retiring teachers and their replacements.
According to Turay, the retirement process for the 680 teachers will take effect on August 31, 2023. The TSC has ensured that these teachers receive their gratuities along with their final month’s salary on the same date. The new cohort of teachers is expected to be added to the payroll and start their roles by September 1, 2023.
Notably, there is an exception for teachers who specialize in Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, and Mathematics (STEAM) subjects. Those who choose to continue their service voluntarily until they reach the age of 65 may be allowed to do so. However, the TSC emphasized the importance of verifying their qualifications through certificates showing their training in the relevant subjects.
Turay also highlighted the government’s efforts to improve the teaching workforce. Since 2018, more than five thousand teachers have been placed on the appropriate pay scale.
Additionally, over three hundred School Heads have undergone regularization, and 1,000 new teachers were recruited in 2021. This brings the total number of teachers on the government payroll to 36,509.
Moreover, between August 2020 and November 2021, over 500 Principals and Vice Principals have been appointed, some of whom previously served in an acting capacity.
Addressing concerns about teachers allegedly demanding money from parents, Turay stated that no formal complaints were received by the commission. However, the TSC has a dedicated department to investigate such issues, and there are consequences for teachers who violate the code of conduct.
