Brief Project Background

The Free Education Project (FEP) is five-year multi-donor support to the efforts of the Government of Sierra Leone in transforming the education sector. The timeline of the project is August 2020  -September 2025, with the Development Objectives (PDOs) ‘to improve the management of the educational system, teaching practices and learning conditions’.

FEP costs US$ 72.85 Million. The World Bank (IDA); European Union (EU); Irish Aid; Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO – formerly DFID); and Global Partnership for Education (GPE) contributes to the Fund.

The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) is responsible for the overall implementation, prompt and efficient coordination, oversight, and monitoring of the project activities. The Sierra Leone Free Education Project Secretariat (FEPS) of the MBSSE is responsible for day-to-day project management and coordination. The FEPS partners include the Sierra Leone Teaching Service Commission (TSC), responsible for Component-2 (Teacher Management and Professional Development), and, an NGO Consortium led by Save the Children. Other Consortium members are Concern Worldwide, FOCUS 1000, Foundation for Rural & Urban Transformation (FoRUT), Humanity & Inclusion (formerly Handicap International), Plan International, and Street Child of Sierra Leone.

FEP has immense potential to transform and strengthen the educational system as well as contribute to accelerated national development. It is aligned with the objectives and strategies of the 2019-2023 Government of Sierra Leone Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) and the priorities of development partners. The MTNDP charts the roadmap for addressing the critical challenges impacting the effective and efficient performance of the education sector,
as well as transforming the sector over the medium and long term.

The project impacts will be measured by the level of improvement in the overall management of the Sierra Leone educational system, teaching practices, and learning conditions. Direct beneficiaries include 1.7 million students; 49,000 teachers and School Management Committee (SMC) members/Boards of Governors (BoGs) in 7,600 Primary and Junior Secondary Schools (JSSs), including girls’ boarding schools. 179,000 students, 7,500 teachers, and stakeholders in 300 Senior Secondary Schools (SSSs) will also benefit from the Project.

FEP also supports the capacity building of communities and local/school key stakeholders with a view to promoting ownership of project outcomes and accountability for results. The project also supports Education Policy Review, Teacher Management, and Professional Development, Performance-Based Financing (PBF) to 5,074 Primary Schools; the construction and furnishing of 190 classrooms for primary schools and 320 for JSSs; and the renovation and maintenance of 1,520 primary schools.