MBSSE, NPSA AND IGR LAUNCH COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT ADVOCACY TO STRENGTHEN FREE QUALITY EDUCATION

By Morlai Sesay

On Friday, 25th July 2025, the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), in collaboration with the Institute of Government Reform (IGR) and the National Partnership for Social Accountability (NPSA), officially launched an advocacy paper to strengthen the Free Quality Education at the New Brookfields Hotel, Freetown. The document, backed by the European Union, champions stronger community engagement and oversight in Sierra Leone’s Free Quality School Education (FQSE) programme.

The launch brought together education stakeholders, civil society organizations, international partners, and community representatives to evaluate the impact of citizen-led accountability in education service delivery. IGR Project Manager Alpha Oumar Kargbo outlined the scope and results of the 30-month project implemented in 200 schools across Falaba, Karene, Moyamba, Tonkolili, and Western Rural. The initiative focused on empowering School Management Committees (SMCs) and civil society to strengthen accountability mechanisms and foster community participation in school improvement. Speaking during the launch, Edmond, who leads the National Partnership for Social Accountability (NPSA), provided insight into the coalition’s role. He explained that NPSA is a nationwide platform of over 50 civil society organizations working collectively to promote transparency, participation, and accountability in public service delivery.

He emphasized that the advocacy paper is the result of rigorous monitoring, community feedback, and collaborative learning from grassroots actors. “The voices in this paper reflect the lived experiences of parents, teachers, and students,” Mr. Edmond said. “At NPSA, we believe community oversight isn’t just a strategy it’s a right. And through this partnership, we’ve demonstrated how local involvement directly leads to stronger education outcomes. According to findings from the advocacy paper, 79% of EU-supported schools had developed and implemented functional school improvement plans, and 81% had adopted effective cash flow systems to improve transparency. In contrast, control schools lagged on these indicators. The paper also highlighted that 63% of supported schools integrated Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) goals into their development plans, compared to 25% of schools in non-supported areas. These changes contributed to improved student retention, with rates as high as 97% in project districts.

Communities also took ownership of school development, including supporting volunteer teachers, cultivating school gardens, and contributing to infrastructure improvements such as classroom construction. In his address, the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Conrad Sackey commended the initiative and the findings. “We are seeing a shift in mindset. When communities are empowered to act, schools become better places to learn and grow,” he said. “MBSSE is committed to scaling up SMC training, digitizing school planning, and embedding accountability in every layer of our education system.” As the FQSE programme evolves, the launch reaffirmed the government and partners’ commitment to people-led education reform, with MBSSE and NPSA pledging to continue amplifying community voices for long-term, sustainable change.